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PoliticsTrump admin overhauls asylum process to fast-track deportations
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The Trump administration published a new regulation on July 27, 2026, allowing U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officers to refer hundreds of thousands of asylum applicants directly to deportation proceedings without conducting interviews. The rule eliminates the long-standing practice of offering interviews to asylum applicants already in the United States, despite the agency claiming there is no statutory right to an interview. Once referred to the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), cases deemed 'legally deficient' may be pretermitted, allowing deportation without a hearing. The rule also permits asylum officers to deny asylum as a matter of discretion without first determining eligibility and removes requirements for credibility assessments. The regulation was implemented without prior warning or a public comment period, likely inviting legal challenges under the Administrative Procedures Act. Critics, including the American Immigration Council, argue this violates due process and will prevent many applicants from arguing their cases.
Source report
President Donald Trump's administration has introduced a new regulation that significantly curtails due process for asylum applicants and accelerates deportation procedures.
Key Changes to Asylum Processing
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)—the agency responsible for visas, green cards, naturalizations, and other legal immigration matters—published a new regulation on Monday. The rule authorizes officers to refer hundreds of thousands of asylum applicants directly to deportation proceedings without conducting interviews.
The regulation eliminates USCIS's longstanding practice of offering interviews to asylum applicants already present in the United States. The agency stated that it had previously conducted interviews despite there being "no statutory right to an interview or requirement to conduct one." The rule also removes references in Department of Homeland Security materials to a "right" to an interview, as well as language stating that asylum officers would review cases "in an interview."
Impact on Applicants
"This means many people will never get a chance to argue their case," Aaron Reichlin-Melchick, a senior fellow at the American Immigration Council, wrote on X Monday. To qualify for asylum, applicants must demonstrate a well-founded fear of persecution in their home country.
According to the filing, the new rule will "more quickly place certain aliens into removal proceedings" with immigration judges at the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR). Once asylum cases are transferred to EOIR, those deemed "legally deficient" may be pretermitted—meaning applicants can be deported without a hearing.
Additional Provisions
The new rule also allows asylum officers to:
- "Determine that the alien does not merit a grant [of asylum] as a matter of discretion without first making an eligibility determination"
- Eliminate the requirement for a letter communicating that the basis for referral of asylum should include an assessment of the applicant's credibility
Implementation and Legal Challenges
The rule was published Monday and implemented Tuesday without prior warning or a public comment period. It is expected to face multiple legal challenges under the Administrative Procedures Act.
Read more about deportations: Trump's DHS Plans to Launch Its Own 24/7 Deportation Airline
New Documentary Footage Shows Lindsey Graham Celebrating Iran Bombing
Previously unreleased documentary footage has revealed late South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham's enthusiastic reaction to the U.S. bombing of Iran.
Graham's Reaction
In a video clip, Graham appears visibly excited, saying: "Look what we've done here. I almost cried."
"I talked to [Donald] Trump this morning, he's jacked, he said, 'Best thing I have ever done.' He loves blowing stuff up," the conservative lawmaker said. "I mean, how long have we been pushing this?"
He added: "There were a lot of people inside that didn't want to do it, so I had my challenges."
Documentary Details
The footage was captured by British filmmaker Alex Holder, who has had remarkable access to film Graham since 2023. The material is part of an upcoming documentary tentatively titled "Lindsey's Graham," referencing the senator's personal perspective on his role in U.S. foreign policy.
Holder told The Wall Street Journal that Graham described the situation as "a game," and remarked on how bizarre it felt that a senator from South Carolina was closer with some Middle East leaders than most presidential administrations.
Graham reportedly agreed to the film's angle, saying he wanted the public to understand his role in the Senate. Holder noted that Graham commented on how "cool this was."
Historical Comparisons
In another clip expressing his approval of the interventionist strategy, Graham compared Trump to former President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Winston Churchill, likening the Middle East conflict to World War II.
"President Trump, when he gets into the zone, he listens, he asks good questions," Graham said.
Source
The New RepublicWestern
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Trump Admin Overhauls Asylum Process to Fast-Track Deportations