The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced a major change to the nation’s asylum system that officials say will reduce a massive backlog and speed up immigration proceedings.
Under the new rule, certain affirmative asylum applications can be sent directly to an immigration judge without first requiring an interview with a USCIS asylum officer.
The Department of Homeland Security said the change is intended to streamline the process by eliminating steps it considers unnecessary in some cases. Officials argue that referring eligible cases directly to immigration court will shorten the time it takes for both asylum officers and judges to resolve claims while helping address a backlog that has grown to more than 1.4 million pending asylum applications.
“For far too long the asylum system has been exploited for purposes of delay and work authorization, not legitimate claims of protection,” said USCIS Director Joseph Edlow.
He continued, “America’s asylum system exists to protect individuals who genuinely fear persecution and this rule will help ensure that resources are directed to the timely adjudication of those claims instead of to those seeking to use the system as a loophole.”
Supporters say the rule will make the asylum system more efficient and allow immigration courts to move cases more quickly. Critics, however, warn that eliminating interviews with asylum officers could reduce opportunities for applicants to present evidence before facing removal proceedings. Immigration advocates also argue the policy may increase the risk that individuals with valid asylum claims are deported without receiving a full administrative review.
The rule is part of the Trump administration’s broader effort to accelerate immigration enforcement while reducing delays in the asylum system.
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