The Trump asylum change that could fast-track deportations

An immigration court sign is seen as federal agents patrol the halls of the Ted Weiss Federal Building in New York City on May 12, 2026. | Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images This story appeared in The Logoff, a daily newsletter that helps you stay informed about the Trump administration without letting political news t

President Donald Trump’s administration has found a new way to gut due process and fast-track deportation for asylum applicants. U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services, or USCIS, the agency that manages visas, green cards, naturalizations, and other aspects of the legal immigration process, published a new regulation

USCIS can now refer asylum applications directly to immigration judges without interviews, a move the Trump administration says cuts the backlog.