Trump Administration Overhauls Asylum Process, Eliminates Interviews to Speed Deportations

The Trump administration, via USCIS, published a new regulation on July 27, 2026, that eliminates the long-standing practice of offering asylum interviews to applicants already in the United States. The rule allows officers to refer hundreds of thousands of asylum seekers directly to deportation proceedings without an interview. Once transferred to the Executive Office of Immigration Review (EOIR), cases deemed 'legally deficient' can be pretermitted, meaning applicants can be deported without a hearing. The rule also permits asylum officers to deny applications as a matter of discretion without first determining eligibility, and removes requirements for credibility assessments. The regulation was published without prior warning or a public comment period, which critics say violates due process and is likely to invite legal challenges under the Administrative Procedures Act.