Immigration judges must now consider all reasons to deny asylum, not just some

The Justice Department has clarified that immigration judges must review all reasons to deny asylum or withholding of removal when reviewing initial credible fear and reasonable fear determinations. This means that even if an asylum officer did not apply a specific bar to eligibility, the judge must now consider it.

This rule change makes it harder for asylum seekers to pass the initial screening stage. Previously, if an asylum officer missed a reason to deny a claim, an immigration judge might not have considered it. Now, judges must actively look for all possible bars to entry, regardless of what the asylum officer did.