RPT-Trump administration drafts plan to raise asylum bar, speed deportations

(No changes to text) By Julia Edwards Ainsley WASHINGTON, Feb 18 (Reuters) - The Department of Homeland Security has prepared new guidance for immigration agents aimed at speeding up deportations by denying asylum claims earlier in the process. The new guidelines, contained in a draft memo dated February 17 but not yet sent to field offices, directs agents to only pass applicants who have a good chance of ultimately getting asylum, but does not give specific criteria for establishi