In a late-night policy notice that took effect 13 October, the Trump administration slashed the time refugees have to contest efforts to revoke their status from 30 days to just 10. The Department of Homeland Security says the accelerated timetable is needed to “mitigate risks” posed by ineligible refugees who were admitted during the Biden administration, which it claims oversaw an “alarming erosion of integrity” in the program. Refugee advocates are alarmed. Preparing a legal defence in 10 days—often while navigating language barriers and trauma—will be nearly impossible, they warn. Global Refuge, a major resettlement agency, says tens of thousands could now face deportation with little recourse. The move comes as DHS reviews 185,000 refugee cases with pending green-card applications. For U.S. employers, the risk is collateral: refugees frequently fill critical roles in manufacturing, logistics and healthcare under unrestricted work authorisation. A sudden loss of status also invalidates an employee’s Form I-9 documents. Companies in refugee-rich hiring corridors such as the Midwest should identify staff who hold refugee status and ensure they have access to counsel. The policy is also expected to strain already overburdened immigration courts, which must schedule fast-track hearings. Attorneys anticipate due-process challenges; a Seattle federal judge previously blocked similar efforts in 2025, indicating litigation is likely. Mobility managers should monitor employees and dependents with refugee status and prepare contingency plans—including temporary protected status or employer-sponsored visas—should revocations rise.
Source: Associated Press
