The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) proposed a rule strengthening asylum screening procedures. The proposed changes would help immigration officials identify fraudulent asylum applications more easily. Additionally, the new rule helps immigration agents better support the government’s executive order “Protecting the American People Against Invasion”.

Proposed overhauls specifically affect applications for employment authorization that are based on pending asylum applications. According to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the number of these kinds of applications reached a historic high. The sheer volume strains USCIS’ resources. Additionally, asylum applications are usually riddled with fraudulent or meritless applications.

The changes to filing and eligibility requirements would decrease incentives for filing fraudulent applications. If finalized, the proposed rule greatly reduces the number of fraudulent applications by making easier for immigration agents to identify them. According to the DHS, the number of affirmative asylum claims stands at nearly one and a half million. Exact changes contained in the proposal can be found in the federal register.

The DHS stated implementing the proposed changes helps USCIS follow the criteria set forth by the government in the executive order. Additionally, USCIS having less fraudulent applications means they can spend more time and effort going over legitimate ones. The proposed rule goes into effect sixty days after its’ publication in the federal register.

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