USCIS implements blanket asylum processing hold for nationals of 39 countries without notice-and-comment rulemaking

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services issued a policy directive suspending asylum processing for nationals of 39 countries — primarily in Africa, Central America, and Southeast Asia — without publishing the rule in the Federal Register or conducting notice-and-comment rulemaking as required by the APA. The directive cited national security screening concerns but provided no country-specific findings. Immigration attorneys filed emergency challenges within days in multiple federal districts.