In a new escalation of its immigration policies, the administration of US President Donald Trump issued a decision reducing the validity period of work permits granted to refugees, asylum seekers, and immigrants with protected status to just 18 months instead of five years. This decision comes in the wake of a security incident in Washington, D.C., and reflects a more stringent approach to dealing with those entering the United States.
Details of the new decision and its motives
Joseph Edlow, director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, announced that the new policy aims to enhance national security and ensure public safety. Edlow explained that shortening the duration of work permits will allow U.S. authorities to conduct more frequent and thorough security checks and reviews of foreigners residing in the United States to ensure they do not espouse any ideologies hostile to the United States or pose a threat to society.
This move came as a direct response to the November 26 shooting in Washington, D.C., in which an Afghan man targeted two National Guard members. The perpetrator had entered the United States through a resettlement program following the chaotic U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2001, a fact the current administration has cited to justify the urgent need for stricter vetting procedures.
Context of the comprehensive campaign against migration
This decision is not an isolated measure, but rather part of a broader campaign led by the Trump administration to reshape the U.S. immigration system. Just two days prior, it followed another move: the suspension of immigration applications for citizens of 19 countries, including those experiencing conflict or political instability, such as Afghanistan, Yemen, Sudan, Somalia, Venezuela, and Haiti. The restrictions also included suspending the process for obtaining permanent residency (green cards) and citizenship for those coming from these countries.
Expected repercussions and political dimensions
This decision is expected to cast a long shadow over the already overburdened U.S. immigration system. Reducing the permit validity period to 18 months will increase the bureaucratic burden on U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, as refugees will have to submit renewal applications almost three times faster than before, potentially creating job and financial insecurity for this group.
Politically, this decision fulfills Trump's campaign promises, which focused primarily on border control and the deportation of undocumented immigrants. Following the National Guard incident, the US president declared his intention to take more radical measures, including threatening a permanent halt to immigration from countries he termed "Third World," suggesting that the coming period may witness further decisions aimed at significantly reducing the number of immigrants and refugees.
