New USCIS restrictions: Shorter work permits after Washington attack
The Trump administration is slashing the validity period for work permits granted to numerous categories of immigrants.
This is part of a series of USCIS restrictions decreed following the lethal attack in Washington last week, which has been blamed on an Afghan citizen, according to AFP on December 5.
“Reducing the maximum validity period for work permits will mandate more frequent and thorough background checks of foreigners applying to work in the US,” the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) explained in an official statement.
Joseph Edlow, the director of the agency under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), stated in the release that this move will ensure immigrant workers “do not threaten public safety or actively promote harmful anti-American ideologies.”
He continued, “Following the attack against National Guard soldiers in our capital, which was committed by a foreigner admitted to this country by the previous administration, it has become even clearer that USCIS must frequently verify the backgrounds of foreigners.” (Quoted via Agerpres).
Consequently, the maximum duration of the immigrant work visas has been reduced from five years to just 18 months for various categories. These include refugees and asylum seekers, as well as those granted deferred enforced departure (DED).
USCIS had previously announced, earlier this week, the suspension of all applications for a permanent resident "green card" or naturalization from citizens of 19 countries.
Citizens from 12 of these countries, notably Afghanistan, had already been barred from entering the US since June, a decision mandated by President Donald Trump for "national security" considerations. The remaining seven countries faced restrictions on visa issuance under the same decision.
The Trump administration has also frozen all decisions on granting asylum in the US following the November 26 attack in Washington. The attack, blamed on an Afghan national, resulted in the death of one National Guard soldier and seriously wounded another.
Furthermore, the administration ordered the re-examination of all "green cards" issued to citizens of the 19 targeted countries since June. Moldova is not among them.
A heated controversy has erupted between Republicans and Democrats. The alleged Washington attacker was admitted to the US in September 2021, less than a month after the hurried withdrawal of American forces from Afghanistan. His asylum request, filed during the administration of Democratic President Joe Biden, was ultimately approved in April 2025 during the Donald Trump administration.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
