USCIS strengthens interviews with asylees and refugees to bolster national security
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has updated its Policy Manual with the goal of strengthening national security. Effective immediately as of August 1, 2025, the agency reestablishes a uniform standard for the selection and conduct of interviews with foreign nationals seeking to adjust their status as asylees or refugees, as well as their derivative family members.
This change reflects USCIS’s commitment to preserving the integrity of its processes and detecting potential cases of fraud, misrepresentation, or public safety risks. Additionally, it aligns its practices with Executive Order 14161, which aims to protect the United States from foreign threats.
According to Matthew Tragesser, USCIS spokesperson:
“We owe it to every American to have the right to feel secure and safe. We are reinstating stricter evaluation and verification policies for our asylum and refugee processes.”
What’s changing with this update?
The new approach establishes more precise criteria for determining when an interview is necessary for applicants, including:
- Inconclusive identity verification: When the applicant’s identity cannot be confirmed with USCIS files, FBI records, or other official sources.
- Multiple identities: Cases where the applicant presents conflicting or unresolved identities, or has claimed a new identity without clear legal justification.
- Insufficient immigration background: If there are doubts about the legitimacy of refugee or asylee status, especially in the presence of indications of fraud or falsification..
- FBI alerts: When the fingerprint history reveals information that could make the applicant inadmissible, or if there are multiple unclassifiable responses..
- Additional information required: If an interview can provide key data to clarify inconsistencies or doubts detected during the documentary review.
- Origin from high-risk countries: When the applicant has resided in or is a citizen of a country identified as a sponsor of terrorism.
- Specific national security or terrorism concerns: Any alert related to these aspects will be sufficient grounds to schedule an interview.
A step toward tighter immigration control
This update does not represent a change in eligibility requirements for obtaining permanent residence, but it does introduce a more rigorous review in the evaluation process, focused on maintaining high standards of integrity and security in the immigration system.
The policy is already in effect and is part of USCIS’s ongoing efforts to ensure safer and more reliable procedures for those seeking to establish themselves legally in the United States.
