Trump administration slashes refugees' appeal window to ten days, sparking deportation fears

Starting Wednesday, the Trump administration will cut the deadline for refugees to appeal a status termination from thirty days to ten days. The policy, issued by the Department of Homeland Security, claims it aims to mitigate risks posed by individuals who may not have qualified for refugee status, specifically referencing admissions made under the Biden administration. Critics say the shortened period leaves families unable to find legal representation, translate paperwork, or obtain records from the nations they fled, potentially leading to deportations to unsafe environments.

Global Refuge president Krish O’Mara Vignarajah and HIAS vice president Naomi Steimberg condemned the move as undermining the core principle of permanent protection for refugees. DHS has not provided a comment, and the State Department directed questions back to the agency. The rule follows recent actions that have dramatically limited refugee admissions, including caps that favor white South Africans.