Miami, 14 October (H.S.): The Donald Trump administration has reduced the time available to refugees to challenge the termination of their status in the United States from 30 days to 10 days, a policy change that refugee advocates warn could increase the risk of deportation for people who fled persecution and war.

The new rule takes effect on Wednesday and forms part of the administration's wider efforts to tighten the refugee resettlement programme. According to the policy document, the change is intended to mitigate potential risks involving people admitted as refugees who may not have qualified for the status.

The document specifically refers to refugees admitted during former President Joe Biden's administration, alleging an alarming erosion of the integrity of the programme. Refugee advocacy groups have disputed the claim. The administration is already reviewing the cases of at least 185,000 refugees admitted during Biden's tenure who have pending applications for permanent residency.

Refugee resettlement organisations have criticised the shortened appeal period, arguing that 10 days would not provide sufficient time to obtain legal representation, translate documents or secure records from countries the refugees had fled. Krish O'Mara Vignarajah, president of Global Refuge, said families had completed interviews, background checks and lengthy waiting periods before receiving approval to enter the United States.

HIAS, a refugee assistance organisation, warned that the policy could expose people fleeing violence, persecution and displacement to deportation to countries where they could face harm or torture. Naomi Steinberg, vice-president of HIAS, said the move challenged the principle of permanent protection through refugee resettlement. Church World Service also said the shortened period would deny refugees a meaningful opportunity to respond or appeal. Danilo Zak, the organisation's director of policy, described the policy as an effort to remove people who had fled persecution and been promised safety.

Zach Kahler, a spokesperson for US Citizenship and Immigration Services, defended the change, saying the agency had found an alarming erosion of screening and vetting measures under the Biden administration. He said the current administration aimed to ensure that refugee status was granted only to those eligible under the law.

The policy comes amid sweeping changes to the US refugee programme. In September, the administration announced plans to cap refugee admissions at 17,500 for 2027, with most places allocated to white South Africans. During his first term, Trump sharply reduced annual refugee admissions, while the Biden administration later raised the target to 125,000 for the final year of his presidency.

After returning to office for a second term, Trump suspended the refugee programme, leaving people approved for resettlement stranded abroad. The programme was subsequently reopened with eligibility largely restricted to white South Africans.

Under the US system, refugees apply for protection while outside the country and undergo screening before being admitted. They may apply for a green card after arriving in the United States. Asylum seekers, by contrast, request protection at the US border or after entering the country, while an asylee is someone who has already been granted asylum while in the United States.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar