USCIS reduces length of work permit validity for migrants to 18 months over security concerns

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services announced Thursday that it is limiting the length of time that Employment Authorization Documents are valid for noncitizens to just 18 months, instead of five years, over ongoing security concerns. 

The move comes amid the Trump administration's crackdown on illegal immigration, and in the aftermath of a terror attack last week that killed a female West Virginia National Guard member near the White House, and injured a male guardsman. 

The administration said the change to shorter work-permit windows will force more frequent background checks on noncitizens working in the U.S., which could help identify security risks and remove potentially dangerous migrants.

"Reducing the maximum validity period for employment authorization will ensure that those seeking to work in the United States do not threaten public safety or promote harmful anti-American ideologies," USCIS Director Joseph Edlow said. 

"After the attack on National Guard service members in our nation’s capital by an alien who was admitted into this country by the previous administration, it’s even more clear that USCIS must conduct frequent vetting of aliens," he added.

The order will impact refugees, migrants granted asylum, those granted withholding of deportation or removal, and migrants with pending applications for asylum or withholding of removal. 

The new directive will go into effect for all employment authorization requests pending or filed on or after Dec. 5, 2025.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.