1615-AC67 202204 Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions 1615 U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services USCIS 1600 Department of Homeland Security DHS Procedures for Credible Fear Screening and Consideration of Asylum, Withholding of Removal and CAT Protection Claims by Asylum Officers

On August 20, 2021, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) (collectively "the Departments”) published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM or proposed rule) 86 FR 46906 that proposed amending regulations governing the procedures for determining certain protection claims and available parole procedures for individuals subject to expedited removal and found to have a credible fear of persecution or torture.  After a careful review of the comments received, the Departments are now issuing an interim final rule (rule or IFR) that responds to comments received in response to the NPRM and adopts the proposed rule with changes.  Most significantly, the IFR establishes timelines for the consideration of applications for asylum and related protection by DHS’s United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and, as needed, DOJ’s Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR).  The IFR also provides that DHS will refer noncitizens whose applications are denied to EOIR for streamlined removal proceedings.

This IFR responds to comments received in response to the NPRM and adopts the NPRM with changes as described in this rule.  The Departments solicit further public comment on the IFR, which the Departments intend to consider and address in a final rule.

]]> Economically Significant Previously Published in The Unified Agenda Final Rule Stage Yes No 8 CFR 208 8 CFR 235 8 CFR 1003 8 CFR 1208 8 CFR 1235 INA sec. 103(a)(1) INA sec. 103(a)(3) 8 U.S.C. 1103(a)(1) 8 U.S.C. 1103(a)(3) INA sec. 235(b)(1)(B) 8 U.S.C. 1225(b)(1)(B) The Refugee Act of 1980 (“Refugee Act”) (Pub. L. 96-212, 94 Stat. 102) Yes NPRM 08/20/2021 86 FR 46906 NPRM Correction 10/18/2021 86 FR 57611 NPRM Comment Period End 10/19/2021 Interim Final Rule 03/29/2022 87 FR 18078 Interim Final Rule Comment Period End 05/31/2022 Interim Final Rule Effective 05/31/2022 Final Rule 05/00/2023 No None No http://www.regulations.gov http://www.regulations.gov No Yes 1125-AB20 Related to Rena Cutlip-Mason Chief, Division of Humanitarian Affairs, OP&S 1615 U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services USCIS 240 721-3000 5900 Capital Gateway Drive, Camp Springs MD 20746