Procedures for Asylum and Withholding of Removal, 59692-59700 [2020-21027]

Agencies

• Executive Office for Immigration Review
• Department of Justice

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 185 (Wednesday, September 23, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 59692-59700]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-21027]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Executive Office for Immigration Review

8 CFR Parts 1003, 1208, and 1240

[EOIR Docket No. 19-0010; A.G. Order No. 4843-2020]
RIN 1125-AA93


Procedures for Asylum and Withholding of Removal

AGENCY: Executive Office for Immigration Review, Department of Justice.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Justice (``Department'' or ``DOJ'') proposes 
to amend the Executive Office for Immigration Review (``EOIR'') 
regulations governing asylum and withholding of removal, including 
changes to what must be included with an application for such relief 
for it to be considered complete and the consequences of filing an 
incomplete application, changes establishing a 15-day filing deadline 
for aliens applying for asylum in asylum-and-withholding-only 
proceedings, and changes related to the 180-day asylum adjudication 
clock.

DATES: Written or electronic comments must be submitted on or before 
October 23, 2020. Written comments postmarked on or before that date 
will be considered timely. The electronic Federal Docket Management 
System will accept comments prior to midnight Eastern Time at the end 
of that day.

ADDRESSES: If you wish to provide comments regarding this rulemaking, 
you must submit comments, identified by the agency name and referencing 
RIN 1125-AA93 or EOIR Docket No. 19-0010, by one of the two methods 
below.
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the website instructions for submitting comments.
     Mail: Paper comments that duplicate an electronic 
submission are unnecessary. If you wish to submit a paper comment in 
lieu of an electronic submission, please direct the mail/shipment to: 
Lauren Alder Reid, Assistant Director, Office of Policy, Executive 
Office for Immigration Review, 5107 Leesburg Pike, Suite 2616, Falls 
Church, VA 22041. To ensure proper handling, please reference the 
agency name and RIN 1125-AA93 or EOIR Docket No. 19-0010 on your 
correspondence. Mailed items must be postmarked or otherwise indicate a 
shipping date on or before the submission deadline.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lauren Alder Reid, Assistant Director, 
Office of Policy, Executive Office for Immigration Review, 5107 
Leesburg Pike, Suite 2616, Falls Church, VA 22041, telephone (703) 305-
0289 (not a toll-free call).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Public Participation

    Interested persons are invited to participate in this rulemaking by 
submitting written data, views, or arguments on all aspects of this 
rule via one of the methods and by the deadline stated above. All 
comments must be submitted in English, or accompanied

[[Page 59693]]

by an English translation. The Department also invites comments that 
relate to the economic, environmental, or federalism effects that might 
result from this rule. Comments that will provide the most assistance 
to the Department in developing these procedures will reference a 
specific portion of the proposed rule; explain the reason for any 
recommended change; and include data, information, or authority that 
support such recommended change.
    Please note that all comments received are considered part of the 
public record and made available for public inspection at 
www.regulations.gov. Such information includes personally identifiable 
information (such as your name, address, etc.) voluntarily submitted by 
the commenter. If you want to submit personally identifiable 
information (such as your name, address, etc.) as part of your comment, 
but do not want it to be posted online, you must include the phrase 
``PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION'' in the first paragraph of your 
comment and identify what information you want redacted.
    If you want to submit confidential business information as part of 
your comment, but do not want it to be posted online, you must include 
the phrase ``CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS INFORMATION'' in the first paragraph 
of your comment. You must prominently identify the confidential 
business information to be redacted within the comment. If a comment 
has so much confidential business information that it cannot be 
effectively redacted, all or part of that comment may not be posted on 
www.regulations.gov.
    Personally identifiable information located as set forth above will 
be placed in the agency's public docket file, but not posted online. 
Confidential business information identified and located as set forth 
above will not be placed in the public docket file. The Department may 
withhold from public viewing information provided in comments that it 
determines may impact the privacy of an individual or is offensive. For 
additional information, please read the Privacy Act notice that is 
available via the link in the footer of https://www.regulations.gov. To 
inspect the agency's public docket file in person, you must make an 
appointment with the agency. Please see the ``For Further Information 
Contact'' paragraph above for agency contact information.

II. Discussion

    In 1980, Congress enacted the Refugee Act of 1980, which, among 
other things, amended the Immigration and Nationality Act (``INA'' or 
``Act'') to implement the obligations of the United States under the 
1967 Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees (``1967 Protocol''), 
by establishing a formal statutory procedure for granting asylum to 
certain refugees who are present in the United States, and by providing 
for a permanent procedure for the admission and resettlement of 
refugees. Public Law 96-212, 94 Stat. 102, 102. The term ``refugee'' is 
now generally defined as ``any person who is outside of any country of 
such person's nationality . . . and who is unable or unwilling to 
return to, and is unable or unwilling to avail himself or herself of 
the protection of, that country because of persecution or a well-
founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, 
membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.'' INA 
101(a)(42), 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(42). Those five grounds, which mirror 
those set out in the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of 
Refugees, as well as the 1967 Protocol, are the sole grounds for asylum 
in the United States today.

A. Form I-589 Filing Requirements

1. Filing Deadline for Asylum Applications in Asylum-and-Withholding-
Only Proceedings
    An applicant for relief or protection from removal, including 
asylum, must comply with applicable requirements to submit information 
or documentation in support of the application as provided by statute 
or regulation. INA 240(c)(4)(B), 8 U.S.C. 1229a(c)(4)(B). With one 
exception for detained crewmembers of a vessel, see 8 CFR 
1208.5(b)(1)(ii), the regulations currently do not prescribe a specific 
deadline for filing an application for asylum and withholding of 
removal with EOIR.\1\ Rather, in immigration proceedings, the 
immigration judge has the authority to set deadlines for the filing of 
applications and related documents. 8 CFR 1003.31(c). Where an 
immigration judge has set a deadline for filing an application for 
relief and that application is not filed within the time set by the 
court, the opportunity to file such an application shall be deemed 
waived. Id. The Board of Immigration Appeals has routinely held that 
applications for benefits are deemed abandoned when the alien fails to 
timely file them. See Matter of R-R-, 20 I&N Dec. 547, 549 (BIA 1992) 
(asylum application deemed abandoned after alien failed to file 
application by deadline set by the immigration judge); Matter of Jean, 
17 I&N Dec. 100, 101-02 (BIA 1979) (asylum application deemed abandoned 
after alien failed to meet 20-day filing deadline set by immigration 
judge).
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    \1\ There is a statutory one-year deadline for filing asylum 
applications, which allows for limited exceptions and exclusions. 
INA 208(a)(2)(B), (D), (E), 8 U.S.C. 1158(a)(2)(B), (D), (E).
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    In this notice of proposed rulemaking (``proposed rule''), the 
Department proposes to revise 8 CFR 1208.4 to add a 15-day deadline 
from the date of the alien's first hearing to file an application for 
asylum and withholding of removal for aliens in asylum-and-withholding-
only proceedings.\2\ Aliens in such proceedings are generally already 
subject to removal orders, denials of applications for admission, or 
denials of permission to land in the case of crewmembers, and are often 
also detained. 8 CFR 1208.2(c).\3\ Moreover,

[[Page 59694]]

their only avenues for relief or protection are applications for 
asylum, statutory withholding of removal, and protection under the 
regulations issued pursuant to legislation implementing U.S. 
obligations under the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, 
Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (``CAT regulations''), 
and they would not be in asylum-and-withholding-only proceedings if 
they had not already claimed a fear of persecution or torture upon 
being returned to their home countries. 8 CFR 1208.2(c)(3)(i). Claims 
for asylum and withholding of removal (both statutory, INA 241(b)(3), 8 
U.S.C. 1231(b)(3), and under the CAT regulations) are the sole issues 
to be resolved in the proceeding and are squarely presented at the 
outset of the proceeding; thus, there is no reason not to expect the 
alien to be prepared to state his or her claim as quickly as possible. 
Moreover, delaying filing of the claim risks delaying protection or 
relief for meritorious claims and increases the likelihood that 
important evidence, including personal recollections, may degrade or be 
lost over time. Further, without such a deadline for the asylum 
application, there is a risk that applicants may simply delay 
proceedings, resulting in inefficiency in what should otherwise be a 
streamlined proceeding. Finally, such a deadline is consistent with 
existing regulations that specify a 10-day deadline for detained 
crewmembers to file an asylum application, 8 CFR 1208.5(b)(1)(ii), and 
with the regulatory directive in 8 CFR 1208.5(a) that asylum 
applications filed by detained aliens are to be given expedited 
consideration.\4\
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    \2\ For many years, these proceedings have been referred to as 
``asylum-only'' proceedings. See, e.g., Matter of D-M-C-P-, 26 I&N 
Dec. 644, 645 (BIA 2015) (``The applicant expressed a fear of 
returning to Argentina, and on June 23, 2011, his case was referred 
to the Immigration Court for asylum-only proceedings. . . .''). EOIR 
now uses the term ``asylum-and-withholding-only proceedings.'' See 
Procedures for Asylum and Withholding of Removal; Credible Fear and 
Reasonable Fear Interview, 85 FR 36264, 36265 n.2 (June 15, 2020).
    \3\ Most aliens who are applicants for admission are subject to 
detention during the inspection process and any subsequent expedited 
removal proceedings. 8 CFR 235.3. Aliens who are ordered removed 
after entering the United States are subject to detention by the 
Department of Homeland Security (``DHS''). INA 241(a)(2), 8 U.S.C. 
1231(a)(2). The categories of aliens described in 8 CFR 1208.2(c) 
encompass both categories--i.e., those denied admission to the 
United States and those who have entered the United States and 
subsequently become subject to removal through a removal order 
issued by DHS outside of immigration proceedings conducted by the 
Department. For aliens in the former category, their asylum claims 
typically are presented at the time admission is denied. For aliens 
in the latter category, their asylum claims typically arise after 
DHS has detained them and begun the process of effectuating their 
removal. More specifically, alien crewmembers who are subject to 
denial of permission to land or removal pursuant to INA 252, 8 
U.S.C. 1282, are also subject to detention. INA 252(b), 8 U.S.C. 
1282(b); 8 CFR 252.1(a). Alien stowaways are subject to removal 
pursuant to INA 235(a)(2), 8 U.S.C. 1225(a)(2). Alien stowaways who 
go through the credible fear screening process are detained. INA 
235(b)(1)(B)(iii)(IV), 8 U.S.C. 1225(b)(1)(B)(iii)(IV). An applicant 
for admission under the Visa Waiver Program (``VWP'') who is refused 
admission may be removed, though such removal does not constitute a 
removal under the Act. 8 CFR 217.4(a)(1), (3). An alien admitted 
under the VWP who is found to be deportable is ordered removed. 8 
CFR 217.4(b). Aliens who have received S nonimmigrant status under 
INA 101(a)(15)(S), 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(S), may be subject to 
removal. 8 CFR 236.4. Aliens subject to the Guam-Commonwealth of the 
Northern Mariana Islands VWP are subject to similar procedures 
regarding refusal of admission and removal as aliens subject to the 
regular VWP. 8 CFR 212.1(q)(8).
    \4\ To ensure this deadline is met, the proposed rule also 
extends the requirements of 8 CFR 1240.11(c)(1)(i) through (iii), 
regarding advisals given by an immigration judge and the provision 
of an asylum application to aliens in certain circumstances in 
removal proceedings, to aliens in proceedings under 8 CFR 
1208.2(c)(1) and 1208.4(b)(3)(iii).
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    To allow for unusual situations in which an alien may need 
additional time to file the application, notwithstanding the alien's 
recent assertion of a fear of persecution, the Department also proposes 
to amend 8 CFR 1208.4 to allow for the extension of the deadline for 
good cause similar to the extension to the 10-day deadline allowable 
for alien crewmembers to file an asylum application. See 8 CFR 
1208.5(b)(1)(ii).
    Finally, the regulatory deadline would not preclude an alien from 
amending or supplementing the application later in the course of 
proceedings, subject to an immigration judge's discretion consistent 
with 8 CFR 1208.4(c); rather, the deadline would ensure only that the 
application is filed in a timely manner consistent with the streamlined 
and focused nature of asylum-and-withholding-only proceedings.
2. Re-Filing an Incomplete Application With EOIR
    A Form I-589, Application for Asylum and for Withholding of 
Removal, is incomplete if it does not include a response to each 
question, is unsigned, or lacks required supporting evidence described 
on the form and form instructions. 8 CFR 1208.3(c)(3). An incomplete 
application does not start the accrual of time for an asylum applicant 
to file for employment authorization. Id. As currently drafted, 
however, the regulations provide that if the immigration court \5\ 
fails to return an I-589 application submitted by mail within 30 days, 
the application will be deemed complete. Id. The regulations do not 
provide a time frame in which an alien must re-file the application if 
the alien wishes it to be considered. Id. Upon an alien's request and 
as a matter of discretion, an immigration judge may allow an alien to 
amend or supplement the alien's application after it is filed. 8 CFR 
1208.4(c).
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    \5\ As currently written, 8 CFR 1208.3(c)(3) uses the term 
``Service'' instead of ``immigration court.'' Use of the term 
``Service'' reflects that the Department did not update certain 
terms and positions when EOIR's regulations were copied from chapter 
I to new chapter V of title 8 of the Code of Federal Regulations 
following the creation of DHS in 2003. Other references in chapter V 
to the Immigration and Naturalization Service or DHS offices apply 
equally to immigration judges or EOIR.
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    The proposed rule would revise 8 CFR 1208.3(c)(3) to ensure that 
cases of individuals seeking asylum are processed efficiently by 
minimizing any delay between the return of an incomplete asylum 
application and the re-filing of a complete one. First, the proposed 
rule would remove the current provision that an alien's incomplete 
asylum application submitted by mail will be deemed complete if the 
immigration court fails to return the application within 30 days of 
receipt. Instead, the proposed rule would provide that immigration 
courts will reject all incomplete applications and return them to the 
applicant in a timely fashion to the address of record for the alien or 
any representative of record.\6\ Further, the proposed rule would add a 
maximum of 30 days for the alien to correct any deficiencies in his or 
her application; the regulations do not currently have any time 
requirement for the alien to correct an incomplete application. If the 
alien fails to file a complete application within the required time 
period, absent exceptional circumstances, the application would be 
deemed abandoned and would be denied.
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    \6\ Aliens are required to maintain an updated address with the 
immigration court. Form EOIR-33 must be filed with the immigration 
court within five days of a change in address. 8 CFR 1003.15(d)(2).
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    Thirty days is a reasonable period in which to remedy application 
defects, and the Department expects that applicants would have an 
incentive to re-file the application as soon as possible in order to 
trigger the possibility of obtaining employment authorization. It is 
well established that immigration judges have the authority to set 
filing deadlines and manage their dockets consistent with applicable 
law, and this requirement is fully consistent with that authority. See 
8 CFR 1003.10(b), 1003.14(b), 1003.18, 1003.31(c). Further, if an 
application is not filed within the time set by an immigration judge, 
the opportunity to file that application shall be deemed waived. 8 CFR 
1003.31(c). Additionally, reasonable filing deadlines do not violate 
the immigration laws or any international treaty obligations. See, 
e.g., Hui Zheng v. Holder, 562 F.3d 647, 655-56 (4th Cir. 2009); Chen 
v. Mukasey, 524 F.3d 1028, 1033 (9th Cir. 2008); Foroglou v. Reno, 241 
F.3d 111, 113 (1st Cir. 2001).
    Without such a deadline, there is a risk that applicants will delay 
proceedings based on an assertion that a corrected application will be 
forthcoming, resulting in wasted immigration judge time and increasing 
the likelihood that, due to the ongoing addition of cases to the 
docket, the eventual application may not be adjudicated within 180 days 
as contemplated by the Act. INA 208(d)(5)(A)(iii), 8 U.S.C. 
1158(d)(5)(A)(iii). These changes will enhance efficiencies for the 
immigration courts by ensuring that cases proceed in a timely and 
predictable manner rather than allowing deficiencies in applications to 
be corrected at any point, and are fully consistent with the Attorney 
General's authority to set conditions or limitations on the 
consideration of asylum applications. INA 208(d)(5)(B), 8 U.S.C. 
1158(d)(5)(B). Moreover, administrative agencies have the prerogative 
to determine proper rules of procedure that best allow them to carry 
out their missions. Vt. Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v. Nat. Res. Def. 
Council, Inc., 435 U.S. 519, 543 (1978).
3. Submission of Any Applicable Asylum Fee
    The Department also proposes to amend 8 CFR 1208.3(c)(3) to specify 
that

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any required filing fee must be submitted in connection with the asylum 
application at the time of filing. See 8 CFR 1003.24, 1003.31(b), 
1103.7(a)(3) (describing process for payment of fees relating to EOIR 
proceedings). A Department regulation, 8 CFR 1103.7(b)(4)(ii), provides 
that when EOIR uses a Department of Homeland Security (``DHS'') form in 
immigration proceedings, the applicable fee is the one provided under 
DHS regulations at 8 CFR 103.7.\7\ EOIR uses the U.S. Citizenship and 
Immigration Services (``USCIS'') Form I-589, Application for Asylum and 
for Withholding of Removal, for which DHS sets the application fee. 
Under the Department's regulation, the DHS fee would also apply to any 
filing of USCIS Form I-589 in EOIR proceedings. See 8 CFR 
1103.7(b)(4)(ii); see also 8 CFR 103.7. Thus, the proposed rule would 
provide that a fee must be submitted if DHS requires one.\8\
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    \7\ On November 14, 2019, DHS proposed to adjust its fee 
schedule for certain applications it adjudicates, including 
applications also adjudicated by EOIR--e.g., Forms I-191, I-485, I-
601, I-589, and I-881. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Fee 
Schedule and Changes to Certain Other Immigration Benefit Request 
Requirements, 84 FR 62280, 62326-27 (Nov. 14, 2019). As part of that 
proposed rulemaking, DHS proposed to move its fee schedule from 8 
CFR 103.7 to 8 CFR 106.2. See 84 FR at 62359-63. On August 3, 2020, 
DHS published the final rule regarding its new fee schedule to be 
effective October 2, 2020. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services 
Fee Schedule and Changes to Certain Other Immigration Benefit 
Request Requirements, 85 FR 46788 (Aug. 3, 2020). The Department 
will conform its reference in 8 CFR 1103.7(b)(4)(ii) to DHS's new 
fee regulation in a separate rulemaking.
    \8\ DHS's recent final rule will require a fee of $50 for Form 
I-589 in most circumstances. 85 FR at 46791. All fees for DHS 
applications adjudicated by the Department are payable to DHS, and 
DHS deposits the funds in the Immigration Examinations Fee Account. 
See INA 286, 8 U.S.C. 1356.
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B. Form I-589 Procedural Requirements

1. Supplementing the Record
    Under 8 CFR 1208.12, an immigration judge \9\ may rely on material 
provided by certain entities when deciding an asylum application, or 
deciding whether an alien has a credible fear of persecution or torture 
pursuant to 8 CFR 1208.30 or a reasonable fear of persecution or 
torture pursuant to 8 CFR 1208.31. Currently, those entities are the 
Department of State, the DOJ Office of International Affairs, DHS, and 
other credible sources, which, under the regulation, may include 
international organizations, private voluntary agencies, news 
organizations, or academic institutions.
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    \9\ The current text of 8 CFR 1208.12 refers to an asylum 
officer instead of an immigration judge. This reflects that the 
Department did not update certain terms and positions when EOIR's 
regulations were copied from chapter I to new chapter V of title 8 
of the Code of Federal Regulations following the creation of DHS in 
2003. The proposed regulation corrects that oversight and replaces 
``asylum officer'' with ``immigration judge'' in 8 CFR 1208.12.
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    The Department proposes to clarify the external materials upon 
which an immigration judge may rely, including by broadening the scope 
of Department components and other government agencies that may possess 
relevant information for an immigration judge in adjudicating a claim. 
The Department also proposes to revise the standard for an immigration 
judge's consideration of information from non-governmental sources to 
ensure that only probative and credible evidence is considered. 
Although materials provided by non-governmental organizations are 
sometimes helpful, the current regulatory text could be read to imply 
that they always are, which is not necessarily the case. See, e.g., 
M.A. v. U.S. INS, 899 F.2d 304, 313 (4th Cir. 1990) (en banc) (``A 
standard of asylum eligibility based solely on pronouncements of 
private organizations or the news media is problematic almost to the 
point of being non-justiciable.''). The proposed revision provides 
appropriate guidance regarding the use of such materials to ensure that 
only credible and probative materials are considered.
    The Department also proposes to expand 8 CFR 1208.12 to allow an 
immigration judge to submit evidence into the record and consider that 
evidence, so long as the judge has provided a copy to both parties, 
which will give the parties an opportunity to respond to or address the 
information appropriately. This proposal is consistent with the 
immigration judge's powers and duties under 8 CFR 1003.10(b) to manage 
immigration court hearings: ``In deciding the individual cases before 
them, . . . immigration judges shall exercise their independent 
judgment and discretion and may take any action consistent with their 
authorities under the Act and regulations that is appropriate and 
necessary for the disposition of such cases.'' See also 8 CFR 1003.36 
(``The Immigration Court shall create and control the Record of 
Proceeding.''). It is also consistent with an immigration judge's duty 
to develop the record. See, e.g., Yang v. McElroy, 277 F.3d 158, 162 
(2d Cir. 2002) (per curiam) (``[T]he IJ whose decision the Board 
reviews, unlike an Article III judge, is not merely the fact finder and 
adjudicator but also has an obligation to establish the record.''); 
Constanza-Martinez v. Holder, 739 F.3d 1100, 1102-03 (8th Cir. 2014) 
(concluding that the immigration judge's introduction of documents into 
the record did not deprive the respondent of due process because ``IJs 
maintain an affirmative duty to develop the record''); see also 
Richardson v. Perales, 402 U.S. 389, 410 (1971) (finding that an 
administrative law judge ``acts as an examiner charged with developing 
the facts''); Charles H. Koch, Jr., Administrative Law and Practice 
Sec.  5.25 (2d ed. 1997) (noting that ``[t]he presiding official is 
pivotal to the fact-finding function of an evidentiary hearing and 
hence, unlike the trial judge, an administrative judge has a well-
established affirmative duty to develop the record''). Further, this 
change will better enable immigration judges to ensure full 
consideration of all relevant evidence and full development of the 
record for cases involving a pro se respondent. See Matter of S-M-J-, 
21 I&N Dec. 722, 729 (BIA 1997) (en banc) (noting that ``various 
guidelines for asylum adjudicators recommend the introduction of 
evidence by the adjudicator'').
2. The Asylum Adjudication Clock
    The proposed rule would remove and reserve 8 CFR 1208.7 as EOIR 
does not adjudicate applications for employment authorization.\10\ 
Further, there is confusing language in 8 CFR 1208.7 regarding the 
relationship between the time period for applications for employment 
authorization, which EOIR does not adjudicate, and the time period for 
adjudicating actual asylum applications, which are relevant for EOIR's 
purposes.
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    \10\ On June 22, 2020, DHS issued a final rule, effective August 
21, 2020, in which it removed from its regulations in part 208 of 
title 8 (1) the 30-day processing provision for initial employment 
authorization applications for those with pending asylum 
applications, and (2) the 90-day time frame for receipt of an 
application to renew employment authorization. Removal of 30-Day 
Processing Provision for Asylum Applicant-Related Form I-765 
Employment Authorization Applications, 85 FR 37502, 37503. The rule 
also indicated that DOJ may issue conforming changes to 8 CFR 1208.7 
at a later date. Id. at 37510. By removing 8 CFR 1208.7, which 
mirrors 8 CFR 208.7, the proposed rule would avoid any potential 
conflict with DHS regulatory provisions. On June 26, 2020, DHS 
published a final rule, effective August 25, 2020, making changes to 
8 CFR 208.7. See Asylum Application, Interview, and Employment 
Authorization for Applicants, 85 FR 38532. The removal of 8 CFR 
1208.7 avoids any potential conflict with changes to 8 CFR 208.7.
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    The INA contains two separate provisions relating to a 180-day time 
frame in the context of an asylum application. The first, INA 
208(d)(5)(A)(iii), 8 U.S.C. 1158(d)(5)(A)(iii), directs the Attorney 
General to set procedures for processing asylum applications providing 
that, in the absence of exceptional

[[Page 59696]]

circumstances, final administrative adjudication of the asylum 
application, not including administrative appeal, shall be completed 
within 180 days after the date an application is filed. Implementing 
regulations clarify that the ``time period[] within which . . . the 
asylum application must be adjudicated pursuant to section 
208(d)(5)(A)(iii) of the Act shall begin when the alien has filed a 
complete asylum application in accordance with'' applicable procedures. 
8 CFR 1208.7(a)(2).
    The second, INA 208(d)(2), 8 U.S.C. 1158(d)(2), addresses when an 
asylum applicant may be granted employment authorization based on an 
asylum application, providing that an applicant for asylum is not 
entitled to employment authorization, but such authorization may be 
provided under regulation by the Attorney General. An applicant who is 
not otherwise eligible for employment authorization shall not be 
granted such authorization prior to 180 days after the date of filing 
of the application for asylum.
    EOIR's current regulations provide that (1) an alien cannot apply 
for employment authorization until at least 150 days after filing an 
application for asylum, and (2) ``no employment authorization shall be 
issued to an asylum applicant prior to the expiration of the 180-day 
period following the filing of the asylum application.'' 8 CFR 
1208.7(a)(1). Furthermore, the time periods within which the alien may 
not apply for employment authorization ``shall begin when the alien has 
filed a complete asylum application in accordance with'' applicable 
regulations. 8 CFR 1208.7(a)(2).\11\
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    \11\ DHS regulations with similar provisions have been amended, 
see note 10, supra, and this proposed rule would eliminate these 
provisions altogether from EOIR's regulations as discussed below.
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    Although neither provision is privately enforceable, INA 208(d)(7), 
8 U.S.C. 1158(d)(7), both statutory provisions express Congress's 
strong expectation that asylum applications would be adjudicated within 
180 days of the date of filing. Section 208(d)(5)(A)(iii) of the Act, 8 
U.S.C. 1158(d)(5)(A)(iii), does so expressly, by indicating that asylum 
applications should be adjudicated within 180 days absent ``exceptional 
circumstances.'' And INA 208(d)(2), 8 U.S.C. 1158(d)(2), does so 
implicitly, by providing that employment authorization shall not be 
granted prior to 180 days after an alien files an asylum application, 
i.e., after the claim is supposed to have been adjudicated.
    Although both of these provisions reflect an expectation that 
asylum applications should be adjudicated within 180 days of filing, 
the provisions themselves are not identical. For example, the 
adjudication deadline for the asylum application itself is subject to 
tolling for ``exceptional circumstances.'' INA 208(d)(5)(A)(iii), 8 
U.S.C. 1158(d)(5)(A)(iii). In contrast, the period during which an 
alien is barred from filing an application for employment authorization 
based on an asylum application may be tolled solely for an alien-caused 
continuance, 8 CFR 1208.7(a)(1), and continuances are subject to a 
``good cause'' standard, see 8 CFR 1003.29 and 1240.6.\12\
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    \12\ The ``good cause'' standard governs continuances under 8 
CFR 1003.29 and adjournments under 8 CFR 1240.6, and both provisions 
were derived from former 8 CFR 242.13 (1958). Matter of L-A-B-R-, 27 
I&N Dec. 405, 407 n.1 (A.G. 2018). For simplicity, the proposed rule 
generally refers only to 8 CFR 1003.29.
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    Aliens in removal proceedings sometimes request continuances 
pursuant to 8 CFR 1003.29 that, if granted, would delay adjudication of 
their asylum applications past the 180-day deadline. Section 1003.29 
imposes a ``good cause'' standard for granting continuances. But if 
granting a continuance would result in missing the 180-day deadline, 
the immigration judge may only grant the continuance if the respondent 
satisfies both the ``good cause'' standard of 8 CFR 1003.29 and also 
shows the ``exceptional circumstances'' required by INA 
208(d)(5)(A)(iii), 8 U.S.C. 1158(d)(5)(A)(iii). Under 8 CFR 
1208.7(a)(2), ``[a]ny delay requested or caused by the applicant shall 
not be counted as part of'' the 180-day adjudication deadline described 
in INA 208(d)(5)(A)(iii), 8 U.S.C. 1158(d)(5)(A)(iii). This means that 
an alien who causes delays in the adjudication process is not entitled 
to such a prompt adjudication of his asylum claim. But, absent delays 
that qualify as exceptional circumstances, 8 CFR 1208.7(a)(2) does not 
relieve immigration judges of their obligation to adjudicate asylum 
claims within 180 days.
    Neither existing regulations nor EOIR's operational guidance, 
however, has always clearly and carefully distinguished between INA 
208(d)(5)(A)(iii), 8 U.S.C. 1158(d)(5)(A)(iii), and INA 208(d)(2), 8 
U.S.C. 1158(d)(2). See Policy Memorandum 19-05, Guidance Regarding the 
Adjudication of Asylum Applications Consistent with INA section 
208(d)(5)(A)(iii) (Nov. 19, 2018). Consequently, the proposed rule 
remedies that confusion by removing regulatory language related to the 
employment authorization process that EOIR does not administer and by 
amending part 1003 of EOIR's regulations to implement INA 
208(d)(5)(A)(iii), 8 U.S.C. 1158(d)(5)(A)(iii), and to direct 
immigration judges to adjudicate asylum applications within 180 days of 
filing absent exceptional circumstances.
    Although the term ``exceptional circumstances'' is not defined for 
purposes of INA 208(d)(5)(A)(iii), 8 U.S.C. 1158(d)(5)(A)(iii),\13\ 
there is no indication that Congress intended for that standard to be 
satisfied by any request for delay by the applicant or to be linked to 
the employment authorization process. To the contrary, EOIR's 
adjudication of asylum applications is a wholly separate process from 
DHS's adjudication of employment authorization applications. Indeed, 
there is no apparent basis to include the reference to INA 
208(d)(5)(A)(iii), 8 U.S.C. 1158(d)(5)(A)(iii), in 8 CFR 1208.7 because 
that regulation otherwise addresses employment authorization, which is 
unrelated to INA 208(d)(5)(A)(iii), 8 U.S.C. 1158(d)(5)(A)(iii).\14\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \13\ The term ``exceptional circumstances'' is defined in INA 
240(e)(1), 8 U.S.C. 1229a(e)(1), but only for purposes of INA 240 
and 240A, 8 U.S.C. 1229a and 1229b.
    \14\ The reference to INA 208(d)(5)(A)(iii) was inserted into 8 
CFR 208.7 (which was later copied in 8 CFR 1208.7) without 
explanation. See 62 FR 444, 464 (Jan. 3, 1997).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    To better effectuate the ``exceptional circumstances'' exception to 
the 180-day deadline in INA 208(d)(5)(A)(iii), 8 U.S.C. 
1158(d)(5)(A)(iii), the Department proposes to add a definition of 
exceptional circumstances in the context of asylum adjudications that 
is similar to the one currently in INA 240(e)(1), 8 U.S.C. 1229a(e)(1). 
The statutory definition in INA 240(e)(1), 8 U.S.C. 1229a(e)(1), 
characterizes circumstances in which an order of removal issued in 
absentia may be rescinded for an alien who had notice of the hearing at 
which the alien failed to appear, provided the alien filed a motion to 
reopen and rescind the order within 180 days. INA 240(b)(5)(C)(i), 8 
U.S.C. 1229a(b)(5)(C)(i). As a definition of circumstances in which an 
adjudication should have been delayed, it also represents a helpful 
explanation of the exceptional nature of circumstances that would 
warrant an exception to the 180-day deadline.
    As of August 14, 2020, EOIR has over 560,000 applications for 
asylum and withholding of removal pending, and its

[[Page 59697]]

ability to ensure they are adjudicated consistent with the statutory 
requirements of INA 208(d)(5)(A)(iii), 8 U.S.C. 1158(d)(5)(A)(iii), may 
be undermined by the current text of 8 CFR 1208.7(a)(2), which could be 
interpreted to allow either party to unilaterally delay the 
adjudication of an asylum application without necessarily showing 
exceptional circumstances, in contravention of the statute. Nothing in 
the text of INA 208(d)(5)(A)(iii), 8 U.S.C. 1158(d)(5)(A)(iii), which 
is directed toward adjudicators rather than applicants, indicates that 
an asylum applicant may unilaterally prompt an extension of the 
adjudication deadline in the absence of exceptional circumstances.
    An applicant may have his or her removal proceeding continued upon 
a showing of good cause. 8 CFR 1003.29, 1240.6; Matter of L-A-B-R-, 27 
I&N Dec. 405 (A.G. 2018). Although neither ``good cause'' nor 
``exceptional circumstances'' is defined by statute or regulation in 
this context, there is no indication that the two terms were intended 
to mean the same thing. To the contrary, plain meaning would dictate 
that the two terms reflect different standards. Indeed, in other 
contexts, ``good cause'' is generally treated as a lower standard than 
``exceptional circumstances.'' Compare United States v. Lea, 360 F.3d 
401, 403 (2d Cir. 2004) (``Exceptional circumstances [under a criminal 
detention statute] exist where there is a unique combination of 
circumstances giving rise to situations that are out of the ordinary.'' 
(internal quotation marks omitted)), with Hall v. Sec'y of Health, 
Educ. & Welfare, 602 F.2d 1372, 1377 (9th Cir. 1979) (``Good cause is . 
. . not a difficult standard to meet.'').
    In short, ``exceptional circumstances'' are circumstances that are 
``clearly out of the ordinary, uncommon, or rare.'' United States v. 
Larue, 478 F.3d 924, 926 (8th Cir. 2007) (per curiam) (applying 
``exceptional reasons'' standard); see also INA 240(e)(1), 8 U.S.C. 
1229a(e)(1) (exceptional circumstances include ``battery or extreme 
cruelty to the alien or any child or parent of the alien, serious 
illness of the alien, or serious illness or death of the spouse, child, 
or parent of the alien, but not including less compelling 
circumstances''). The term ``good cause'' has no settled meaning and 
generally requires a balancing of relevant factors to determine whether 
it exists. Matter of L-A-B-R-, 27 I&N Dec. at 412-13. Thus, although an 
exceptional circumstance will support a finding of good cause, good 
cause itself is not necessarily an exceptional circumstance that would 
warrant an exception to the statutory 180-day adjudication deadline for 
an asylum application. The inclusion of the reference to INA 
208(d)(5)(A)(iii), 8 U.S.C. 1158(d)(5)(A)(iii), in 8 CFR 1208.7, which 
could be understood to effectively allow an alien or DHS to delay the 
adjudication deadline pursuant only to the ``good cause'' standard in 8 
CFR 1003.29 and 1240.6, is in tension with the statute. Thus, not only 
does 8 CFR 1208.7 warrant deletion, but modifications to 8 CFR 1003.29 
and 1240.6 are also necessary. Moreover, removing the reference to INA 
208(d)(5)(A)(iii), 8 U.S.C. 1158(d)(5)(A)(iii), as part of the removal 
of all of 1208.7 will allow EOIR to ensure that the statutory mandate 
regarding adjudicating asylum applications within 180 days is fulfilled 
absent exceptional circumstances.
    In order to further ensure that asylum adjudications are completed 
within the 180-day period prescribed by INA 208(d)(5)(A)(iii), 8 U.S.C. 
1158(d)(5)(A)(iii), the proposed rule would directly promulgate a clear 
regulation implementing INA 208(d)(5)(A)(iii), 8 U.S.C. 
1158(d)(5)(A)(iii), in 8 CFR 1003.10(b) as part of the listing of 
immigration judge powers and duties. It would also amend 8 CFR 
1003.31(c), which outlines the immigration judge's authority to set and 
extend time limits for filings of applications and related documents, 
to ensure that the setting of deadlines for filing supporting documents 
does not inadvertently extend the 180-day deadline absent exceptional 
circumstances. In short, the changes would incorporate the 180-day 
timeline by limiting an immigration judge's ability to set filing 
deadlines that would cause the adjudication of an asylum application to 
exceed 180 days absent a showing of exceptional circumstances.
    Finally, the proposed rule would also remove and reserve Sec.  
1208.9 because that provision refers to operations performed by asylum 
officers in DHS, not immigration judges in EOIR. That provision was 
duplicated from Sec.  208.9 as part of the reorganization of title 8 
following the transfer of functions from the former Immigration and 
Naturalization Service to DHS due to the Homeland Security Act of 2002, 
Public Law 107-296. Aliens and Nationality; Homeland Security; 
Reorganization of Regulations, 68 FR 9824, 9834 (Feb. 28, 2003).

III. Regulatory Requirements

A. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Department has reviewed this proposed regulation in accordance 
with the Regulatory Flexibility Act and has determined that it will not 
have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities. 5 U.S.C. 605(b). The proposed rule would not regulate ``small 
entities'' as that term is defined in 5 U.S.C. 601(6). Only 
individuals, rather than entities, are eligible to apply for asylum, 
and only individuals are placed in immigration proceedings.

B. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995

    This proposed rule will not result in the expenditure by State, 
local, and Tribal governments, in the aggregate, or by the private 
sector, of $100 million or more in any one year, and it will not 
significantly or uniquely affect small governments. Therefore, no 
actions were deemed necessary under the provisions of the Unfunded 
Mandates Reform Act of 1995.

C. Congressional Review Act

    This proposed rule would not be a major rule as defined by section 
804 of the Congressional Review Act. 5 U.S.C. 804(2). This rule will 
not result in an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more; 
a major increase in costs or prices; or significant adverse effects on 
competition, employment, investment, productivity, innovation, or on 
the ability of United States-based enterprises to compete with foreign-
based enterprises in domestic and export markets.

D. Executive Order 12866 and Executive Order 13563

    The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs of the Office of 
Management and Budget (``OMB'') has determined that this proposed rule 
is a ``significant regulatory action'' under section 3(f) of Executive 
Order 12866. Accordingly, the regulation has been submitted to OMB for 
review. The Department certifies that this regulation has been drafted 
in accordance with the principles of Executive Order 12866, section 
1(b), and Executive Order 13563.
    Executive Orders 12866 and 13563 direct agencies to assess all 
costs and benefits of available regulatory alternatives and, if 
regulation is necessary, to select regulatory approaches that maximize 
net benefits (including potential economic, environmental, public 
health, and safety effects; distributive impacts; and equity). 
Executive Order 13563 emphasizes the importance of using the best 
available methods to quantify costs and benefits, reducing costs, 
harmonizing rules, and promoting flexibility.

[[Page 59698]]

    The Department believes that this proposed rule would effectuate 
congressional intent to resolve cases in an expeditious manner and 
would provide significant net benefits relating to EOIR proceedings by 
allowing the agency to resolve cases more quickly. See Executive Order 
12866, sec. (1)(b)(6) (stating that ``[e]ach agency shall assess both 
the costs and the benefits of the intended regulation and, recognizing 
that some costs and benefits are difficult to quantify, propose or 
adopt a regulation only upon a reasoned determination that the benefits 
of the intended regulation justify its costs''). As of August 14, 2020, 
EOIR has over 560,000 pending cases with an application for asylum and 
withholding of removal, and the median processing time for a non-
detained case with an asylum application is 807 days. This proposed 
rule would assist EOIR in adjudicating new asylum cases more 
efficiently in order to ensure that this volume does not increase to an 
insurmountable degree. No costs to the Department or to respondents are 
expected. Respondents are already required to submit complete asylum 
applications in order to have them adjudicated, and immigration judges 
already have authority to set deadlines.
    The Department notes that this proposed rule would not impose any 
new fees. Consistent with the treatment of other applications referred 
by USCIS that are renewed in immigration proceedings, an alien filing a 
USCIS Form I-589 with USCIS who is then referred to DOJ for immigration 
proceedings would pay the application fee only once. The Department's 
fees for applications published by DHS are established in accordance 
with 8 CFR 1103.7(b)(4)(ii), which, in turn, cross-references the DHS 
fee schedule. Given the inextricable nature of the two agencies' asylum 
processes and the benefit of not treating applicants for substantially 
similar benefits differently if they file with DOJ or with DHS, the 
Department's regulations have contained this cross-reference for 
several years, and this proposed rule would not alter it. The 
Department is also not authorized, per regulation, to waive the 
application fee for an application published by DHS if DHS identifies 
that fee as non-waivable. 8 CFR 1103.7(c). The proposed rule would also 
not alter that regulatory structure.
    The Department believes that this proposed rule would impose only 
minimal direct costs on the public, to include the costs associated 
with attorneys and regulated entities familiarizing themselves with 
this rule. An immigration judge's ability to set filing deadlines is 
already established by regulation, and filing deadlines for both 
applications and supporting documents are already a well-established 
aspect of immigration court proceedings guided by regulations and the 
Immigration Court Practice Manual. The proposed rule also does not 
require an immigration judge to schedule a merits hearing at any 
particular time after the application is filed, as long as the 
application is adjudicated within 180 days absent exceptional 
circumstances, which is an existing and longstanding statutory 
requirement. Moreover, this rule does not require that an alien wait 
until the immigration judge sets a filing deadline before filing an 
application, and an alien remains free to file his or her asylum 
application with the immigration court before the first hearing. Asylum 
applications are frequently filed prior to or at an initial immigration 
court hearing already, and existing regulations allow for supplementing 
an initial application as appropriate, subject to an immigration 
judge's discretion. Most aliens filing asylum applications in pending 
immigration proceedings--87 percent--have representation,\15\ and the 
proposed rule would not be expected to increase any burdens on 
practitioners, who are already subject to professional responsibility 
rules regarding workload management, 8 CFR 1003.102(q)(1), and who are 
already accustomed to preparing and filing documents related to asylum 
claims according to deadlines established by an immigration judge. The 
Department acknowledges that establishing a fixed deadline to file an 
asylum application in some types of immigration proceedings may alter 
the manner in which attorneys organize their caseloads, though it also 
recognizes that attorneys have been aware of the 180-day adjudication 
deadline for asylum applications for over two decades and may be 
familiar with the similar existing deadline for alien crewmember asylum 
applications in 8 CFR 1208.5(b)(1)(ii). The Department seeks comment on 
the proposed rule's potential indirect costs and benefits to 
practitioners, if any, beyond those already inherent in immigration 
proceedings and existing law.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \15\ EOIR, Current Representation Rates, available at https://www.justice.gov/eoir/page/file/1062991/download.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    No costs to the Department are associated with the proposed 
regulatory changes. The changes do not create an incentive that would 
cause DHS to file more cases and, thus, are not expected to result in 
an increase in the number of cases to be adjudicated by EOIR. Further, 
the changes provide guidance for administrative decision-making but do 
not require immigration judges to make more decisions or to prolong 
immigration proceedings.

E. Executive Order 13132 (Federalism)

    This rule will not have substantial direct effects on the States, 
on the relationship between the national government and the States, or 
on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various 
levels of government. Therefore, in accordance with section 6 of 
Executive Order 13132, it is determined that this rule does not have 
sufficient federalism implications to warrant the preparation of a 
federalism summary impact statement.

F. Executive Order 12988 (Civil Justice Reform)

    This rule meets the applicable standards set forth in sections 3(a) 
and 3(b)(2) of Executive Order 12988.

G. Paperwork Reduction Act

    Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13, 44 
U.S.C. chapter 35, and its implementing regulations, 5 CFR part 1320, 
all agencies are required to submit to OMB, for review and approval, 
any reporting requirements inherent in a rule. This proposed rule may 
require edits to the USCIS Form I-589, Application for Asylum and for 
Withholding of Removal, because the filing of an asylum application may 
now require submission of a fee receipt. If necessary, a separate 
notice will be published in the Federal Register requesting comments on 
the information collection impacts of this rule and the revised USCIS 
Form I-589.

List of Subjects

8 CFR Part 1003

    Administrative practice and procedure, Aliens, Immigration, Legal 
services, Organization and functions (Government agencies).

8 CFR Part 1208

    Administrative practice and procedure, Aliens, Immigration, 
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

8 CFR Part 1240

    Administrative practice and procedure, Aliens.

    Accordingly, for the reasons set forth in the preamble, 8 CFR parts 
1003, 1208, and 1240 are proposed to be amended as follows:

[[Page 59699]]

PART 1003--EXECUTIVE OFFICE FOR IMMIGRATION REVIEW

0
1. The authority citation for part 1003 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  5 U.S.C. 301; 6 U.S.C. 521; 8 U.S.C. 1101, 1103, 
1154, 1155, 1158, 1182, 1226, 1229, 1229a, 1229b, 1229c, 1231, 
1254a, 1255, 1324d, 1330, 1361, 1362; 28 U.S.C. 509, 510, 1746; sec. 
2 Reorg. Plan No. 2 of 1950; 3 CFR, 1949-1953 Comp., p. 1002; 
section 203 of Pub. L. 105-100, 111 Stat. 2196-200; sections 1506 
and 1510 of Pub. L. 106-386, 114 Stat. 1527-29, 1531-32; section 
1505 of Pub. L. 106-554, 114 Stat. 2763A-326 to -328.

0
2. In Sec.  1003.10, amend paragraph (b) by adding three sentences at 
the end of paragraph to read as follows:


Sec.  1003.10   Immigration judges.

* * * * *
    (b) * * * In the absence of exceptional circumstances, an 
immigration judge shall complete administrative adjudication of an 
asylum application within 180 days after the date an application is 
filed. For purposes of this paragraph (b) and of Sec. Sec.  1003.29 and 
1240.6 of this chapter, the term exceptional circumstances refers to 
exceptional circumstances (such as battery or extreme cruelty to the 
alien or any child or parent of the alien, serious illness of the 
alien, or serious illness or death of the spouse, child, or parent of 
the alien, but not including less compelling circumstances) beyond the 
control of the parties or the immigration court. A finding of good 
cause does not necessarily mean that an exceptional circumstance has 
also been established.
* * * * *
0
3. Revise Sec.  1003.29 to read as follows:


Sec.  1003.29   Continuances.

    The immigration judge may grant a motion for continuance for good 
cause shown, provided that nothing in this section shall authorize a 
continuance that causes the adjudication of an asylum application to 
exceed 180 days in the absence of exceptional circumstances, consistent 
with section 208(d)(5)(A)(iii) of the Act and Sec.  1003.10(b).
0
4. In Sec.  1003.31, revise paragraph (c) to read as follows:


Sec.  1003.31   Filing documents and applications.

* * * * *
    (c) Subject to Sec.  1208.4(d) of this chapter, the immigration 
judge may set and extend time limits for the filing of applications and 
related documents and responses thereto, if any, provided that nothing 
in this section shall authorize setting or extending time limits for 
the filing of documents after an asylum application has been filed that 
would cause the adjudication of an asylum application to exceed 180 
days in the absence of exceptional circumstances, consistent with 
section 208(d)(5)(A)(iii) of the Act and Sec.  1003.10(b). If an 
application or document is not filed within the time set by the 
immigration judge, the opportunity to file that application or document 
shall be deemed waived.
* * * * *

PART 1208--PROCEDURES FOR ASYLUM AND WITHHOLDING OF REMOVAL

0
5. The authority citation for part 1208 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  8 U.S.C. 1101, 1103, 1158, 1226, 1252, 1282; Title 
VII of Public Law 110-229; Pub. L. 115-218.

0
6. In Sec.  1208.3, revise paragraph (c)(3) to read as follows:


Sec.  1208.3   Form of application.

* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (3) An asylum application must be properly filed in accordance with 
the form instructions and with Sec. Sec.  1003.24, 1003.31(b), and 
1103.7(a)(3) of this chapter, including payment of a fee, if any, as 
explained in the instructions to the application. For purposes of 
filing with an immigration court, an asylum application is incomplete 
if it does not include a response to each of the required questions 
contained in the form, is unsigned, is unaccompanied by the required 
materials specified in paragraph (a) of this section, is not completed 
and submitted in accordance with the form instructions, or is 
unaccompanied by any required fee receipt. The filing of an incomplete 
application shall not commence the period after which the applicant may 
file an application for employment authorization. An application that 
is incomplete shall be rejected by the immigration court. If an 
applicant wishes to have his or her application for asylum considered, 
he or she shall correct the deficiencies in the incomplete application 
and re-file it within 30 days of rejection. Failure to correct the 
deficiencies in an incomplete application or failure to timely re-file 
the application with the deficiencies corrected, absent exceptional 
circumstances as defined in Sec.  1003.10(b), shall result in a finding 
that the alien has abandoned that application and waived the 
opportunity to file such an application.
* * * * *
0
7. In Sec.  1208.4, add paragraph (d) to read as follows:


Sec.  1208.4   Filing the application.

* * * * *
    (d) Filing deadline. For any alien in asylum proceedings pursuant 
to Sec.  1208.2(c)(1) and paragraph (b)(3)(iii) of this section, the 
immigration judge shall comply with the requirements of Sec.  
1240.11(c)(1)(i) through (iii) and shall set a deadline of fifteen days 
from the date of the alien's first hearing before an immigration judge 
by which the alien must file an asylum application, which includes an 
application for withholding of removal and protection under the 
Convention Against Torture. The immigration judge may extend the 
deadline for good cause. If the alien does not file an asylum 
application by the deadline set by the immigration judge, the 
immigration judge shall deem the opportunity to file such an 
application waived, and the case shall be returned to the Department of 
Homeland Security for execution of an order of removal.


Sec.  1208.7   [Removed and Reserved]

0
8. Remove and reserve Sec.  1208.7.


Sec.  1208.9   [Removed and Reserved]

0
9. Remove and reserve Sec.  1208.9.
0
10. In Sec.  1208.12, revise paragraph (a) to read as follows:


Sec.  1208.12   Reliance on information compiled by other sources.

    (a) In deciding an asylum application, which includes an 
application for withholding of removal and protection under the 
Convention Against Torture, or in deciding whether the alien has a 
credible fear of persecution or torture pursuant to Sec.  1208.30, or a 
reasonable fear of persecution or torture pursuant to Sec.  1208.31, an 
immigration judge may rely on material provided by the Department of 
State, other Department of Justice offices, the Department of Homeland 
Security, or other U.S. government agencies, and may rely on foreign 
government and non-governmental sources if those sources are determined 
by the judge to be credible and probative. On his or her own authority, 
an immigration judge may submit relevant evidence into the record, if 
it is credible and probative, and may consider it in deciding an asylum 
application, which includes an application for withholding of removal 
and protection under the Convention Against Torture, provided that a 
copy of the evidence has been provided to both parties and both parties 
have had an opportunity to comment on or object to

[[Page 59700]]

the evidence prior to the issuance of the immigration judge's decision.
* * * * *

PART 1240--PROCEEDINGS TO DETERMINE REMOVABILITY OF ALIENS IN THE 
UNITED STATES

0
11. The authority citation for part 1240 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  8 U.S.C. 1103, 1158, 1182, 1186a, 1186b, 1225, 1226, 
1227, 1228, 1229a, 1229b, 1229c, 1252 note, 1361, 1362; secs. 202 
and 203, Pub. L. 105-100 (111 Stat. 2160, 2193); sec, 902, Pub. L. 
105-277 (112 Stat. 2681).

0
12. Revise Sec.  1240.6 to read as follows:


Sec.  1240.6   Postponement and adjournment of hearing.

    After the commencement of the hearing, the immigration judge may 
grant a reasonable adjournment either at his or her own instance or, 
for good cause shown, upon application by the respondent or the 
Department of Homeland Security, provided that nothing in this section 
shall authorize an adjournment that causes the adjudication of an 
asylum application to exceed 180 days in the absence of exceptional 
circumstances, consistent with section 208(d)(5)(A)(iii) of the Act and 
Sec.  1003.10(b) of this chapter.

    Dated: September 16, 2020.
William P. Barr,
Attorney General.
[FR Doc. 2020-21027 Filed 9-21-20; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 4410-30-P