The U.S. government plans on letting immigration officers reject asylum applications without an interview. According to CBS, the change in policy reflects a wider governmental effort regarding fraud in the asylum system. The policy is currently under planning and hasn’t been formally proposed or implemented yet.
Under the regulation, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) agents can issue an asylum rejection and place rejected applicants in removal proceedings before the Department of Justice’s (DOJ’s) immigration court system. Traditionally, immigration authorities could only trigger removal procedures if the court rules removal necessary. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated that such a policy helps streamline the processing of asylum cases.
USCIS regulation stipulates asylum seekers apply file within one year of entering the country. Originally, USCIS officers had to interview all asylum applicants that didn’t meet this one-year deadline before deciding to place them in removal procedures. The planned regulation lets agents decide this without conducting an interview. The implementation plan for the regulation is still unclear.
As always, ILBSG actively monitors ongoing U.S. immigration news. If you have questions about any U.S. immigration related issue, please contact us. Working with an experienced attorney ensures you get the right advice based on the most recent laws and policy updates. In an ever-evolving immigration landscape, it’s particularly critical you get the right advice.