The Department of Homeland Security announced a proposed overhaul of asylum procedures in an interim final rule that will be published this week. For example, asylum officers now will be empowered to hear and decide asylum claims in a non-adversarial setting. But the rule also introduces drastic timelines that threaten due process protections, such as the ability to access counsel, which is one of the most important factors in outcomes in asylum cases.
This discussion will cover:
- The proposed changes in the new rule.
- What these changes will mean for asylum seekers, practitioners, and the immigration courts.
- Next steps, including the new comment period.
