US Cuts Work Permits from Five Years to Just 18 Months Over Security Worries

 US Cuts Work Permits from Five Years to Just 18 Months Over Security Worries

The United States has dramatically cut how long work permits last for immigrants – from five years down to just 18 months. The change, announced yesterday by US immigration officials, is meant to improve security, but critics say it'll cause real hardship for vulnerable people.

The new rule affects refugees, asylum seekers, and people waiting for permanent residency or deportation appeals. Previously, since 2023, these groups could get work permits lasting up to five years. From today, new applications and renewals will only be valid for 18 months. Officials say this means more frequent background checks to catch fraudsters or people who might pose a threat. The immigration director, Joseph Edlow, said: "Reducing the maximum validity period will ensure those seeking to work in the United States do not threaten public safety."

What triggered this? Last week, an Afghan man who'd entered the US during Biden's presidency and been granted asylum this spring shot two National Guard soldiers in Washington DC, killing one. The suspect, 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, had a work permit. Edlow pointed to the attack as proof that more frequent checks are needed. It's part of President Trump's wider immigration crackdown, including stopping Afghan visas and pausing citizenship ceremonies for people from 19 "high-risk" countries.

Who does this affect? Mainly newly arrived refugees, asylum seekers, people protected from deportation, and those with pending asylum or green card applications. It also impacts people with Temporary Protected Status, whose permits are now limited to a year or less.

Immigration lawyers and charities are furious. Houston lawyer Emily Neumann said: "This isn't about security – it's bureaucratic chaos that keeps families in limbo." She warns it'll overwhelm the system with extra paperwork, increase waiting times, and cost families £300-£500 every 18 months for renewals. Support groups like the International Rescue Committee say it punishes people fleeing danger and could push them into illegal work or poverty.

Officials say people can apply for renewal up to 180 days early, but with processing delays already stretching for years, that's little comfort. Edlow insists it's just "common sense" – working in America is a privilege, not a right. But critics see it as another attack on legal immigration, similar to recent rows over driving licences for immigrants after fatal crashes involving undocumented drivers.

One thing's certain: this will affect tens of thousands of people, from tech workers in Silicon Valley to farm labourers in California. Whether it actually catches real security threats or just tangles honest people in red tape remains to be seen.