Procedures for Asylum and Bars to Asylum Eligibility

Document Headings Document headings vary by document type but may contain the following: the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document the number of the CFR title and the number of each part the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly related to the agency docket number / agency internal file number the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions See the Document Drafting Handbook for more details. Department of Homeland Security 8 CFR Part 208 RIN 1615-AC41 Department of Justice Executive Office for Immigration Review 8 CFR Part 1208 [EOIR Docket No. 18-0002; A.G. Order No. 4873-2020] RIN 1125-AA87 AGENCY: Executive Office for Immigration Review, Department of Justice; U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of Homeland Security. ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY: On December 19, 2019, the Department of Justice (“DOJ”) and the Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) (collectively, “the Departments”) published a notice of proposed rulemaking (“NPRM”) that would amend their respective regulations governing the bars to asylum eligibility. The Departments also proposed to clarify the effect of criminal convictions and to remove their respective regulations governing the automatic reconsideration of discretionary denials of asylum applications. This final rule (“final rule” or “rule”) responds to comments received and adopts the provisions of the NPRM with technical corrections to ensure clarity and internal consistency. DATES: This rule is effective on November 20, 2020. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lauren Alder Reid, Assistant Director, Office of Policy, Executive Office for Immigration Review, 5107 Leesburg Pike, Suite 1800, Falls Church, VA 22041, telephone (703) 305-0289 (not a toll-free call). Maureen Dunn, Chief, Division of Humanitarian Affairs, Office of Policy and Strategy, U.S. Ci…