If an alien wishes to apply for asylum within one year of entry, who will they be interviewed by?

An alien applying for asylum within one year of their entry into the United States will be interviewed by a USCIS asylum officer. This process typically occurs during a credible fear interview or a subsequent interview after an application for asylum is submitted. USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) is the agency responsible for processing asylum applications and conducting these interviews, which are designed to assess the merits of the applicant's claim based on their fear of persecution in their home country.

Interviews conducted by the asylum officer focus on the details of the individual's case and allow the applicant to present their narrative, including evidence supporting their claim of a well-founded fear of persecution based on one of the five protected grounds: race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.

In contrast, an Immigration Judge usually becomes involved later in the process, such as during removal proceedings if an asylum claim is denied at the USCIS level. A Department of State representative does not conduct these interviews, as their role pertains to diplomatic functions rather than asylum procedures. Customs and Border Protection agents typically handle border enforcement and processing at ports of entry, not asylum interviews.