New DHS rule takes effect immediately, sparking fears that thousands who fled persecution could face rapid deportation with little chance to respond.
The US Department of Homeland Security has sharply reduced the time refugees have to contest the termination of their legal status, cutting the response window from 30 days to just 10 days under an interim final rule that takes effect immediately.
The change, announced on Tuesday and published without the usual public notice-and-comment period, applies when US Citizenship and Immigration Services issues a Notice of Intent to Terminate (NOIT) refugee status. Officials say the shorter deadline is needed to “mitigate potential risks” linked to people admitted as refugees who were allegedly ineligible at the time of entry, and to restore integrity to the immigration system.
US Cuts Refugee Appeal Deadline to 10 Days:
DHS specifically pointed to refugees admitted during the previous administration, claiming there had been an “alarming erosion of the integrity” of the refugee programme due to prioritising speed over rigorous screening. The department is already reviewing the cases of at least 185,000 refugees admitted in recent years who still have pending applications for permanent residency.
Refugee advocates and legal organisations have condemned the rule as a severe erosion of due process. Krish O’Mara Vignarajah, president and CEO of Global Refuge, said families who underwent interviews, background checks and years of waiting abroad now face a “ten-day clock” that is “wholly insufficient to find a lawyer, translate documents, or get records out of a country they were forced to flee due to conflict or persecution.” In some cases, she warned, refugees may not even receive the notice before the deadline expires, effectively eliminating their only chance to respond.
There is no formal appeal once USCIS terminates refugee status. The notice period is therefore the sole opportunity for individuals to present evidence and defend their protection. Loss of status typically leads to a Notice to Appear in immigration court, the cancellation of work authorisation, and the risk of detention and deportation. Advocates say the consequences for families could be swift and severe: separation of children from parents, loss of jobs and housing, and interruption of medical care.
HIAS, a major refugee aid organisation, cautioned that people who fled violence and persecution could be returned to countries where they face harm, torture or death. Shawn VanDiver, president of AfghanEvac, said the shortened timeline would be particularly damaging for Afghans who resettled in the United States after the 2021 withdrawal, describing the 10-day period as “a deadline built to be missed.”
US Refugee Rules Face Backlash:
The American Immigration Lawyers Association advised practitioners to prepare for rapid action if clients receive a NOIT, stressing that the compressed window leaves little room to gather evidence or request additional time. The International Refugee Assistance Project called the rule another step towards the “mass de-documentation and deportation of refugees” and urged its immediate rescission.
The measure forms part of a broader tightening of refugee and immigration policies. Earlier this year, DHS launched a review of thousands of refugee cases and sought to detain some individuals still awaiting green cards-a policy later blocked by a federal court. Refugee admissions for the coming year have also been sharply limited.
Refugee protection in the United States has long been framed as a durable commitment under the 1980 Refugee Act, which passed with strong bipartisan support. Critics argue the new rule treats that protection as provisional and subject to continual re-examination, undermining the stability Congress intended for those granted refuge.
As the 10-day clock begins ticking for those issued notices, advocacy groups say the practical effect will be to place already vulnerable families under intense pressure, with limited ability to defend the legal status they were granted after rigorous screening.