New DHS Rule Leaves Immigrants At Risk Of Losing Their Work Permits

The new immigration rule poses a serious risk to the work permits of thousands of immigrants by discontinuing automatic extensions during the renewal process. Effective October 30, this rule removes the previously available 540-day extension for pending renewal requests, leaving many without legal work status. Legal experts express concerns that the processing times for applications, which can take up to 20 months, will worsen the situation. Adriel Orozco from the American Immigration Council points out that the backlog at USCIS has increased, making timely processing unlikely. Enrique Espinoza, a staff attorney, emphasizes that immigrants are now vulnerable to employment gaps due to these delays.

Moreover, loss of work permits could strip immigrants of critical benefits like driver’s licenses and Social Security numbers. Nearly 900,000 work permit applications have been pending beyond six months, according to USCIS data, indicating a growing crisis. This policy shift is viewed as part of a broader strategy to complicate the immigration process, pushing immigrants to abandon their cases.