At least 29 Americans have sought asylum in Australia since second Trump presidency began

Dozens of Americans are seeking asylum in Australia as their US homeland becomes increasingly fractured and politically volatile during Donald Trump’s second presidency.

At least 29 US citizens applied for humanitarian protection visas in the first six months since Trump’s return to the White House in January 2025, according to Department of Home Affairs figures obtained under Freedom of Information laws.

The deputy chief executive of the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC), Jana Favero, said the centre had also seen an increase in the number of people from the US calling its helplines for advice on how to claim protection.

“We are deeply concerned about the increasing attacks on human rights in the United States, and in particular the targeting of the LGBTIQ+ community,” Favero said.

The home affairs data does not include specific reasons for the applications, but to be accepted as a refugee in Australia, an asylum seeker must be assessed as having a “well-founded fear of persecution” due to their race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion.

The data shows asylum applications from US citizens have steadily increased since Trump was inaugurated on 20 January, albeit from a low base.

Fewer than five US citizens applied for asylum between February and April.

The number of applications rose to five in May, seven in June and 14 in July, resulting in a minimum of 29 and a maximum of 38 lodgments over six months.

The exact number is unclear because the department does not disclose the figure for months with fewer than five applications.

By comparison, home affairs recorded fewer than five asylum applications from US citizens in each of the final six months of 2024. All the applications relate to subclass 866 onshore protection visas, which are available to people who arrive in Australia on a valid visa before seeking asylum.

No protection visas were granted to US citizens between January and July 2025. However, applications can take months or even years to be finalised.

Prof Daniel Ghezelbash, the director of the Kaldor centre for international refugee law at the University of NSW, said that whether an asylum seeker is granted protection depends on the risk of persecution at the time their application is assessed, not the time the application was submitted.

“So, regardless of whether they applied under Trump or under Biden, the recent ones would have been decided in the context of Trump being in power,” Ghezelbash said.

Home affairs handles about 2,000 subclass 866 visa applications each month, meaning US citizens make up less than 1% of cases. Only about one in six applications from all countries results in a visa being granted, according to statistics published by the department.

People who are granted a subclass 866 visa are allowed to stay in Australia permanently and have a path to full citizenship.

In August, Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Board reported it had received 245 US refugee claims in the first six months of 2025, which was more than in any full year since 2019. Ireland has similarly recorded a sharp rise in asylum applications from US citizens since Trump’s election win.

The home affairs department did not respond to a request for comment.