USCIS Implements Rule Change to Expedite Asylum Applications and Reduce Backlog

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced a new rule allowing the agency to refer asylum applications directly to Immigration Judges without an initial interview. This change, effective immediately, is intended to shorten the adjudication time for asylum applications and reduce the existing backlog in the system. The Department of Homeland Security stated that the rule aims to direct resources to genuine claims and prevent the system from being used as a loophole.