Summary
The Trump administration is dismissing some asylum applications because the applicants did not have a required "credible fear" interview when they entered the United States. This interview is an important step that assesses whether individuals face danger if they return to their home countries. Many asylum-seekers are being told to start their applications over, affecting those who have been in the process for years.
Key Facts
- Some asylum-seekers have received letters from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) dismissing their applications.
- The dismissals are due to missing "credible fear" interviews, a required step in the asylum process.
- The lack of interviews was partly because there were not enough asylum officers to handle the large number of border-crossers during the pandemic.
- The Trump administration is reviewing and dismissing applications, affecting people who have been in the U.S. since as far back as 2019.
- Dismissed asylum applications mean people might lose their work permits and legal status.
- USCIS spokesman clarified that cases marked for "expedited removal" are administratively closed if USCIS lacks jurisdiction.
- "Expedited removal" is a quicker deportation process for individuals in the U.S. for less than two years.
