New rule cuts refugee termination challenge window to 10 days

The Trump administration is implementing a new rule that reduces the time refugees have to challenge the termination of their legal status from 30 days to 10. The policy takes effect Wednesday without undergoing the standard advance public notice-and-comment process. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated the measure aims to mitigate risks associated with individuals admitted as refugees who were not eligible for such status.

According to DHS documents, the administration identified an "alarming erosion of the integrity" of the refugee program during the Biden administration. The agency claimed that processing policies prioritized expediency over quality, resulting in omitted eligibility questions and incomplete records. Zach Kahler, a spokesman for Citizenship and Immigration Services, told The Associated Press that the agency found an "alarming erosion of screening and vetting measures" during the previous administration to rush processing. He stated that the current administration is ensuring refugee status is reserved only for those eligible under the law.

This rule follows an order to review at least 185,000 refugees admitted during the Biden administration who have pending green card applications. Refugee advocates dispute the government's allegations regarding prior screening failures. Krish O'Mara Vignarajah, president of Global Refuge, said in a statement that families submitted to interviews, background checks, and years of waiting abroad before being approved. She argued that a 10-day notice period is insufficient to find a lawyer, translate documents, or obtain records from countries of origin. Vignarajah added that in some cases, refugees may not receive the notice before the ten days expire, effectively eliminating their chance to respond.

Naomi Steinberg, Vice President of HIAS, warned that refugees fleeing violence and persecution face deportation to countries where they could be subject to further harm. She stated that the administration is attempting to upend the principle that refugee resettlement represents permanent protection. The U.S. refugee admissions program has historically enjoyed bipartisan support since the Refugee Act of 1980. Refugees typically undergo extensive security screenings and background checks before resettlement approval.

The Trump administration has significantly overhauled the U.S. refugee admissions program, restricting overall admissions while prioritizing the resettlement of white South Africans. Last month, the administration set a ceiling of 17,500 refugee admissions for fiscal year 2027, allocating most slots to Afrikaners. During his first term, President Donald Trump reduced annual refugee approvals. The Biden administration reversed this trend by setting a ceiling of 125,000 for fiscal year 2025. Upon returning to the White House in January 2025, Trump suspended the refugee program, stranding applicants worldwide. The program was later reopened with limitations focused primarily on white South Africans.