US Immigration Policy Regarding Asylum Seekers from Russia in 2022–2023

This article analyzes changes in US immigration policy regarding asylum seekers from the Russian Federation in 2022–2023. This period is characterized by radical shifts in US asylum policy and coincides with one of the largest emigration phenomena in Russian history. The study documents a dramatic increase in asylum applications from Russians. The primary route has become the Mexican-American (southern) border, where the overwhelming majority of asylum applications were submitted through defensive applications. This route entails significant personal risks, including passage through Tijuana, one of the most dangerous cities in the world, and requires substantial financial outlays. The analysis reveals a critical contradiction between the public rhetoric of the Joe Biden administration about “welcoming” Russians fleeing conscription and institutional collapse. Infrastructure, not designed to handle such an influx, faced a large backlog of cases by 2023, leading to long wait times. Additional barriers were introduced through digital border crossing monitoring via the “CBP One” app, which has been criticized for creating obstacles and potentially discriminating against non-Spanish speakers. Systemic violations of the rights of detained Russians were also recorded, including prolonged family separations and inadequate medical care. In the context of fragmented institutional support, horizontal mutual aid networks (such as Telegram chats) played a key role in survival and adaptation. The case of New York City as a “sanctuary city” demonstrates that local initiatives, such as the ASLAN legal support network, filled the gaps created by narrow federal quotas. Russian asylum seekers, while highly educated and economically integrated, remain vulnerable to mental health problems, marginalization, and deportation risks associated with the new administration.