Immigration attorneys in Minnesota say the federal government’s pause on asylum processing is worsening an already overwhelmed system and leaving thousands of people in legal limbo for years. 

They warn the slowdown is also increasing the risk of detention for immigrants who have followed every required step to stay in the country legally.

Asylum is a legal protection for people who fear persecution in their home countries. Once someone files an asylum application, they are allowed to remain in the United States while their case is reviewed. Many are also eligible for work permits during that wait.

According to Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC) data, Minnesota had 12,867 pending asylum cases in fiscal year 2024, which is six times higher than in 2017. 

“There’s a backlog of about 1.4 million cases pending currently,” said Nkechi James-Gillman, with the Gillman Immigration Law Firm. “Asylum has always taken a long time. I would say maybe an average three to four years. But now you’re seeing clients who are coming to us and saying, ‘My asylum’s been pending since 2016, that’s 10 years.’”

The delays are affecting work permits as well. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) data shows more than 460,000 asylum-related work-permit applications were pending in June 2025, for initial and renewal applications. Twelve percent of those were waiting more than six months for approval.

For families, the consequences are immediate. 

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Over the weekend, Hani Duglof was detained by federal agents after his visa expired, even though he had already applied for asylum and was waiting for a decision. His brother, Mohamed Duklef, said the family believed Duglof was protected while his case was pending.

“We felt like, okay, he’s safe, but apparently he’s not really safe, you know? And that’s what happened to him.”

Attorneys say Duglof’s case reflects a growing fear among asylum seekers who have done everything the government instructed them to do. Many worry that the pause on processing, combined with increased enforcement, leaves them vulnerable.

Hanne Sandison, Immigration Legal Services program director with The Advocates for Human Rights, said her clients are increasingly afraid to leave their homes.

“People are following the steps. You know, if you filed for asylum, you’re just waiting. That’s not your fault that it’s taking so long,” she said. “People are really afraid. A lot of anxiety.”

Sandison said that in recent years, many of Minnesota’s new asylum cases have come from Ecuador, Venezuela and Nicaragua. 

She said the people she works with flee countries because of violence, political instability, or threats to their safety, and believed the United States would offer protection.

Sandison said many of her clients are unsure what will happen next. 

“The tools that we’ve used and the rules that we’ve followed have really changed and been taken from us in a lot of ways,” she said. “Right now, I think it’s just trying to stay safe, hang on, and keep talking to your lawyers and your communities.”

Attorneys say they are receiving nonstop calls from families trying to understand what the pause means for their cases. 

“You have to speak to a lawyer to determine what your options are, because everyone knows asylum, but there are a lot of different paths to legal status. There’s you know, through a family members, there’s trafficking visas, there are visas for victims of crime, there are visas for victims of domestic violence,” she said.

Sandison said there is a level of uncertainty that hasn’t been seen before.

“Right now, it’s about staying safe, staying connected to your community, and getting good legal advice as we work through this together,” she said.

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