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NewsNoticias Tampa Bay (Univision)August 1, 2026Hillsborough

USCIS Changes Asylum Process: Some Cases May Go Directly to Immigration Judges

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has implemented a new policy allowing certain asylum applications to be referred directly to an immigration judge without an initial agency interview. This change aims to reduce administrative backlogs and speed up the processing of asylum claims.

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Why It Matters

Asylum seekers may now bypass the initial USCIS interview stage, moving directly into the court system, which changes the timeline and procedural requirements for their legal claims.

Key Facts

  • USCIS can now refer certain affirmative asylum applications directly to an immigration judge without conducting an initial interview.
  • The policy change is currently in effect as of July 27, 2026.
  • The measure applies to 'affirmative' asylum applications, which are filed by individuals not currently in deportation proceedings.
  • USCIS will continue to conduct initial interviews for many asylum cases under the traditional procedure.
  • The stated goal of the policy is to reduce the backlog of pending asylum cases and eliminate administrative steps deemed redundant.
  • USCIS is accepting public comments on the regulation before issuing a final version.
  • The policy change was initiated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Who's Mentioned

personJoseph Edlow“Director of USCIS who stated the policy aims to focus resources on legitimate pr”organizationU.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services“The agency responsible for implementing the new asylum processing rule.”organizationDepartment of Homeland Security“The department driving the policy change to reduce immigration system backlogs.”personJames Percival“General Counsel of the DHS who stated the change is intended to improve system e”