New US rule refers some asylum seekers directly to courts

The US unveiled a new rule referring certain asylum seekers directly to courts, bypassing interviews with USCIS officials.

The rule aims to reduce the backlog of 1.4 million asylum petitions with USCIS by shortening adjudication time.

The change applies to affirmative asylum claims filed by immigrants not in removal proceedings, preventing a second chance at asylum.

USCIS Director Joseph Edlow stated the rule ensures resources are directed to genuine persecution claims, not loopholes.

DHS estimates over 132,000 cases per year could be transferred from USCIS to immigration courts under the change.