The Trump administration has implemented a new rule allowing asylum officers to bypass interviews for certain applicants, directly referring them to immigration judges for removal proceedings.This change could affect up to 444,000 of the over 1.4 million asylum cases in the backlog.While officials claim the move will streamline processing and reduce delays, immigrant advocates warn it may accelerate deportations.Immigration courts, under the Department of Justice, face pressure as judges have been replaced with military lawyers and prosecutors.

The policy shift comes after the termination of legal protections for Haitians and others, raising concerns about asylum seekers' vulnerabilities.Federal data shows USCIS referred 31,454 cases to immigration courts in the first half of fiscal year 2026, already surpassing 2025 totals.

Critics argue the rule enables faster deportations while undermining legitimate asylum claims, highlighting ongoing tensions between immigration enforcement and humanitarian protections.