ILRC Comment on USCIS Revisions to Policy Manual on Statelessness

Asylum
Policy Advocacy
Temporary Protected Status
Publication Date

In 2023, we commended USCIS for finally developing guidance on the definition and process for determining statelessness, as well as describing its impact on several types of immigration benefits applications. This guidance had been lacking for decades, leaving stateless individuals and USCIS adjudicators with a confusing void when faced with immigration benefits issues.

On June 5, 2025,  USCIS removed the carefully drafted guidance of 2023 and replaced it with literally nothing to guide adjudicators or individuals who are stateless. The entire chapter of Volume 3, Part K has been removed, and there is no replacement guidance provided as the chapter is now simply “reserved.” ILRC posted this comment to oppose this change.

Audience
Practitioners