Trump Bolsters National Security As USCIS Cuts Work Permits from 5 Years to 18 Months

The Trump administration delivered on its promise to protect Americans by reducing work permit validity for refugees, asylees, TPS holders, and those with pending asylum or green cards from 5 years to just 18 months. USCIS Director Joseph Edlow emphasized this ensures frequent vetting to detect harmful intents, directly responding to last week's DC attack where Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal, admitted under Biden, killed one Guard member and wounded another. Effective December 5 for new and pending applications, this reverses Biden-era leniency amid broader crackdowns like halting Afghan visas and pausing cases from 19 high-risk nations. Strong action prioritizes safety over backlogs.