New State Department rules would deny visas to those who fear returning home

The Washington Post reports that the State Department has issued new directives instructing diplomatic missions to ask nonimmigrant visa applicants whether they fear returning to their home country and deny visas to those who answer affirmatively. The rule is attributed to the Trump administration and framed as a response to high asylum claims in the US, according to reporting from The Guardian and other outlets. The article is sourced from a major national outlet with a named journalist and reflects standard newsroom editorial practices; The Guardian's corroborating coverage and references in immigration law circles (AILA) confirm the policy directive exists, though independent search results indicate ongoing legal questions about whether such denials comply with international law protecting migrants from return to zones of danger. Watch for potential legal challenges, including referenced Supreme Court cases (Mullin v. Doe and Trump v. Miot) that may determine whether migrants can be denied protection under such rules.