Withholding of removal is a form of protection granted to individuals who can prove that their life or freedom would be threatened in their home country due to their race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. It prevents the U.S. government from deporting the person to that specific country but does not grant permanent residence or a path to a green card.

Withholding of removal is a humanitarian safeguard that stops the U.S. from deporting an individual to a country where they face a likely threat to life or freedom. It differs from asylum in that it does not provide lawful status, only protection from removal. It may be the only option for individuals who are barred from asylum due to factors like a missed one-year filing deadline or certain criminal convictions.

This form of immigration relief protects individuals from being deported to a country where they would likely face serious harm. However, it is a limited benefit, it allows the person to remain in the U.S. and work legally but does not offer permanent legal status or eligibility for most public benefits. It’s often pursued when asylum is unavailable due to missed deadlines or certain legal bars.