The Trump administration is advancing a sweeping new immigration enforcement measure that could result in the dismissal of asylum applications for potentially hundreds of thousands of migrants already residing in the United States.
According to sources familiar with the plan and internal memos reviewed by CNN, the controversial proposal would make those asylum seekers—many of whom have lived and worked in the U.S. for years—immediately deportable through expedited removal, a fast-track process that bypasses immigration court hearings. The move is part of a broader effort by the administration to overhaul immigration enforcement protocols and maximize deportation numbers ahead of the 2024 election.
A Radical Shift in USCIS Authority
In an unprecedented shift, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)—traditionally a benefits-granting agency—has been empowered to take on enforcement responsibilities. Under a directive signed by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, USCIS officers now have the authority to initiate deportation proceedings, bypassing standard review procedures that have long been the domain of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
A memo obtained by CNN confirms that USCIS may now not only close asylum cases but also take “additional actions to enforce civil and criminal violations of the immigration laws.”
Matthew Tragesser, a spokesperson for USCIS, confirmed the agency has “nothing to announce at this time,” but emphasized that the agency is committed to using “all tools in our toolbox” to uphold the immigration system and remove individuals deemed unlawfully present.
Thousands Could Be Affected
The plan targets asylum seekers who entered the U.S. unlawfully but later filed for protection. According to a 2023 federal analysis, about 25% of asylum applicants admitted entering the country without authorization—potentially affecting more than 250,000 people. In total, nearly 1.45 million affirmative asylum cases are currently pending with USCIS.
Previously, migrants applying for asylum through USCIS were not subject to immediate removal unless flagged by ICE. Under the new policy, individuals whose applications are dismissed without a legal finding of ineligibility may be deported without a hearing.
Critics Warn of Chilling Effect
Immigration experts and civil rights advocates say the administration’s actions undermine due process and violate protections under both U.S. and international law.
“They’re turning the agency that we think of as providing immigration benefits into an enforcement arm for ICE,” said Sarah Mehta, deputy director of government affairs for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
The American Federation of Government Employees Council 119, which represents USCIS officers, also expressed strong opposition to the change.
“Our union opposes any policy that violates basic rights guaranteed to asylum seekers,” said Michael Knowles, executive vice president of the union. “Under the Immigration and Nationality Act, an alien has the right to apply for asylum and receive due process—regardless of how they entered the country.”
Long-Term Impacts on Communities
Many of the affected asylum seekers have built stable lives in the U.S., holding jobs, supporting families, and contributing to local economies.
“These are immigrants who have been in the U.S. working legally for years,” said Conchita Cruz, co-executive director of the Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project. “Dismissing their asylum cases will hurt them, their families, employers, and communities that rely on them.”
Critics warn that turning USCIS into an enforcement agency will discourage vulnerable individuals from seeking legal relief, even when eligible.
The Trump administration has previously taken steps to restrict asylum, including limiting access at the southern border and instructing judges to dismiss “legally deficient” cases without hearings. The latest policy extends that pattern, further eroding what many experts see as essential humanitarian protections under U.S. law.
