DHS removes interview requirement for asylum seekers, possibly speeding removals

The Department of Homeland Security's U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) removed the mandatory interview requirement for asylum seekers, allowing officers to refer cases directly to immigration judges without assessing credibility. The rule, effective immediately, could impact over 444,000 pending asylum applicants and 132,000 future applications, potentially expediting deportation proceedings. The policy also affects Haitians facing the revocation of their Temporary Protected Status.