HIAS, one of the world's oldest refugee resettlement organizations, has issued a public warning over what it calls "alarming new attacks on refugees and asylum seekers" by the Trump administration.

The organization published its assessment as the administration moves to restrict protections for people fleeing persecution. HIAS, founded in 1881 and long active in the U.S. resettlement system, framed the measures as a direct challenge to the country's refugee and asylum commitments.

Who is affected?

The measures described by HIAS target two distinct groups:

• Refugees — people approved for resettlement in the United States from abroad;
• Asylum seekers — people who arrive at the border or already in the country and request protection under U.S. and international law.

Both channels have been the focus of administration policy changes since President Trump returned to office, and HIAS states that the combined effect is to narrow access to protection at multiple stages of the process.

What does HIAS say changed?

The organization describes a pattern rather than a single measure. In its statement, HIAS characterizes the administration's actions as "attacks" on the refugee and asylum systems themselves — not isolated procedural adjustments.

For refugees, this concerns the resettlement pipeline, the mechanism through which the United States has historically admitted vetted refugees. For asylum seekers, it concerns the legal ability to claim protection once on U.S. soil or at the border.

HIAS argues these policies affect people who have already fled conflict and persecution and who rely on U.S. law — including the Refugee Act of 1980 — for safety.

Why does this matter now?

HIAS issued its warning as advocacy organizations, resettlement agencies, and legal groups track a wave of executive actions and policy shifts affecting immigration. The organization's intervention is significant because of its long institutional history: it has operated refugee aid programs for more than 140 years and participates directly in the U.S. resettlement infrastructure.

The group's core argument is that restricting refugee admissions and asylum access breaks with established U.S. practice and international obligations.

What can affected readers do?

HIAS directs attention to its published analysis on its official website, where the organization details its position and its response work.

This article summarizes HIAS's public statement. It does not provide legal advice. Refugees, asylum seekers, and applicants with pending cases should rely on:

• official government sources for the current status of any programme or rule;
• accredited immigration attorneys or DOJ-recognized representatives for case-specific guidance;
• HIAS's own published materials for the organization's full assessment.

Policy in this area continues to change quickly. Readers should verify the current status of any programme, deadline, or eligibility rule against official announcements before making decisions based on older reporting.

Passport File will continue to monitor statements from HIAS, the Department of Homeland Security, the State Department, and the Executive Office for Immigration Review, and will update this story as concrete policy details, quotas, and effective dates are confirmed in official sources.