Trump Caps Migrant Work Permits at 18 Months

Trump administration capped many migrant work permits at 18 months, a sharp cut from the five-year maximum adopted in recent years and the latest step in a broader immigration crackdown. Officials say the shorter timeline allows more frequent vetting; advocates warn it will disrupt hiring and push vulnerable migrants out of the workforce.

What Happened

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced on December 4, 2025 that it will reduce the validity of employment authorization documents for asylum seekers and other migrants with temporary protections to 18 months. Permits now capped at 18 months instead of five years. The change applies to applications pending or filed on or after December 5, 2025. USCIS framed the move as a security measure to allow more regular re-checks of eligibility. Existing work permits remain valid until their printed expiration.

The shift reverses a Biden-era policy that had extended many permits to five years to ease backlogs. USCIS said categories like high‑skilled H‑1B workers, who receive work authorization incident to their status, are not affected. H-1B workers are not affected by this change.

Why It Matters

Shorter permits mean more frequent renewals, adding pressure to an agency that has struggled with processing times. Employers could see more lapses in authorization for current staff, while newly arrived asylum seekers may face longer periods without the ability to work if renewals stall. The Washington Post reports roughly 1.4 million asylum seekers are employed in the U.S., underscoring the potential labor-market ripple effects.

The Bigger Crackdown

The work-permit cut comes amid a wider tightening of immigration rules following the late-November shooting deaths of two National Guard members in Washington, a case involving an Afghan national. In recent days, the administration paused many asylum decisions and immigration requests for nationals of 19 countries already subject to a renewed travel ban, with officials signaling that list could expand. Bloomberg and other outlets characterized the steps as part of a comprehensive re-review of approvals granted since 2021.

What’s Next

USCIS is expected to issue additional implementation guidance as renewal waves begin under the shorter timeline. Legal challenges from advocacy groups are likely, focused on whether the agency adequately justified the disruption to work authorization and weighed the operational strain on employers. For now, migrants and employers should check filing dates closely, plan for earlier renewals, and prepare for possible processing delays as the 18‑month cycle takes effect.

Sources

• Trump Restricts Migrant Work Permits in Immigration Crackdown — Bloomberg (December 4, 2025)
• Trump Limits Work Permit Access For Migrants, After National Guard Shooting — Washington Post (December 4, 2025)