No Asylum for Criminals Act of 2025

This bill would change asylum rules so that anyone convicted of a crime—either a felony or a misdemeanor—could not get asylum in the United States. The only exception would be for certain “political offenses” committed outside the U.S., if the Department of Homeland Security labels them as such by regulation. The bill also spells out what counts as a felony or a misdemeanor: it can follow how the place of conviction defines it, or use the length of possible jail time (more than one year for a felony, not more than one year for a misdemeanor).

In simple terms, most people with criminal convictions would be blocked from asylum, with a narrow exception for specific political crimes abroad that DHS may identify.

• Who is affected: People applying for asylum in the U.S. who have criminal convictions.
• What changes: Any felony or misdemeanor conviction makes a person ineligible, unless DHS designates the offense as a political crime committed outside the U.S. The bill defines felony and misdemeanor using local law or jail-time thresholds.
• When: The text provided does not state an effective date.