Asylum Seekers’ Participation in the Workforce Benefits All Americans

• Asylum seekers are integral to our workforce and economy.
  People seeking asylum fill positions in sectors facing persistent labor shortages, which benefits all Americans. When more people are able to work, earn, and spend, overall demand for goods and services increases, and inflation is reduced.
• Ending work authorization will harm individuals and families who have been in the U.S. for decades.
  Many people seeking asylum have deep roots in their communities. Additionally, the heavily backlogged asylum process can take several years to complete. During this time, individuals have to provide for their own well-being and that of their family–including transportation, education, and healthcare–in addition to navigating and paying for the legal process and associated fees. New, increasingly burdensome renewal requirements and expanded discretion for immigrant agents to deny renewal applications have the potential to deprive families of the means to support themselves and undermine the very self-sufficiency that the work permits are meant to promote.
• This rule will create a more vulnerable workforce.
  Removing work authorization for individuals who are being continuously vetted and are living in the U.S. legally while going through a complex court process would push people into the informal economy, where labor protections are minimal. They would be more vulnerable to exploitation or wage theft, which in turn could depress wages, suppress labor protections, and disadvantage American workers at large.