Interim Final Rule

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) removed the interview requirement for asylum seekers, allowing asylum officers to directly refer cases to immigration judges without first assessing credibility. This policy, effective immediately, could expedite deportation proceedings for over 444,000 pending asylum applicants and impact future cases, including Haitians facing loss of Temporary Protected Status. While the Department of Homeland Security claims the rule will reduce immigration court backlogs, experts suggest it may weaken asylum claims and slow the system.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) removed the interview requirement for asylum seekers, allowing asylum officers to refer cases directly to immigration judges without assessing credibility. The policy aims to expedite removal proceedings but could result in weakened asylum claims and faster denials, potentially affecting over 576,000 pending and future applicants, including Haitians losing Temporary Protected Status.

A coalition of 25 states and the District of Columbia is suing the Trump administration over new Medicaid work requirements, arguing the policy unlawfully restricts access to healthcare. The lawsuit challenges the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' (CMS) Interim Final Rule (IFR), which mandates documentation for exemptions to work, volunteer, or education requirements for Medicaid enrollees. The rule, effective in January 2027, would require able-bodied individuals to work 20 hours weekly while enrolled in free healthcare.