Updated on September 1, 2021

USCIS in its statistical annual report for 2020 reported that in 2020 it received approximately 92,800 applications for asylum. It reviewed 56,000 applications. You can find more information by checking this report: 2020 USCIS Statistical Annual Report.pdf

Asylum offices were closed to the public from March 18 through June 3, 2020. Asylum offices reopened to the public in phases starting June 4, 2020. This resulted in lower number of reviewed applications.

USCIS anticipates receiving more than 290,000 new asylum applications in 2021. You can find more information in this report: US Department of State Report to Congress for Fiscal Year 2021

USCIS near tripled its asylum staff. Still, there is a backlog of over 1.1 million asylum-seeking applications waiting decision on their asylum applications.

USCIS is pressured to complete applications in a secure and timely manner. USCIS lacks the agility to rapidly staff and train personnel to meet dynamic surges in workloads like those experienced with asylum, naturalization, and employment authorization applications. All of these create a backlog that has to be addressed and resolved.