The Trump administration is reportedly preparing to automatically reject asylum applications filed by migrants who crossed into the United States illegally, according to two sources cited by CNN.
The new policy, which could impact hundreds of thousands of people, aims to fast-track their removal without judicial review.
Under the plan, the government would close the cases of those who entered the country unlawfully and place them directly into expedited deportation proceedings. This means many immigrants currently waiting for a decision could be deemed removable without ever appearing before an immigration judge.
Roughly 1.45 million people are still awaiting decisions on their asylum claims filed with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Among them, about a quarter — approximately 250,000 individuals — admitted to entering the country without authorization, according to a 2023 federal report, CNN reported.
Previously, USCIS would review these claims through a standard process. But under a new directive signed by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, the agency will now be allowed to reroute these cases directly into deportation channels, bypassing the traditional court-based system. This marks a major departure from past procedures, according to CNN.
When asked by the network, USCIS spokesperson Matthew Tragesser stated:
“We have no announcements at this time, but President Trump and Secretary Noem have empowered USCIS to use every tool available to uphold the integrity of the immigration system, detect fraud, and swiftly remove individuals who are in the country unlawfully.”
This policy shift also comes as USCIS steps away from its usual administrative roles — like processing visa applications and naturalizations — and takes on a more enforcement-oriented function typically handled by ICE and Customs and Border Protection.
Sarah Mehta, deputy director at the American Civil Liberties Union, expressed concern about the change:
“They are turning an agency meant to grant protections into an enforcement arm of ICE.”
Expedited removals — also known as fast-track deportations — have already been broadened to include any undocumented migrant unable to prove two years of continuous residence in the U.S. Immigration judges have been instructed to dismiss asylum requests deemed legally insufficient without holding hearings. According to CNN, numerous migrants with legal work histories in the country have already received sudden rejection notices.
Yet asylum remains one of the few legal avenues that can eventually lead to citizenship, even for those who arrived without a visa.
Conchita Cruz, co-director of the Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project, warned in an interview with CNN:
“The government is supposed to process asylum claims — not shut them down. Every applicant deserves a fair chance to have their case heard. Many have lived and worked here for years and are vital parts of their communities.”
