By Kanishka Singh
WASHINGTON, July 10 (Reuters) – The U.S. administration announced on Friday an extension of work authorization for hundreds of thousands of immigrants holding temporary protected status from Haiti and six other nations, moments before their permits were set to expire.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, under the Department of Homeland Security, reset the expiration date for Haitian applicants to July 24. Permits for individuals from Ethiopia, Syria, Somalia, Yemen, South Sudan, and Myanmar will remain valid through July 24.
This follows a recent Supreme Court ruling allowing the administration to terminate temporary protected status for Haitians and Syrians.
Temporary protected status grants legal work authorization and residency protections to individuals in the U.S. when their home countries face disasters, conflicts, or other crises.
Advocacy groups and community leaders expressed alarm over potential consequences, warning that revoked permits could destabilize workforces and destabilize key sectors.
Labor organizations pushed for the extension, citing risks of workplace disruptions and economic instability.
President Trump has pursued aggressive immigration policies, facing criticism from human rights bodies for measures deemed discriminatory and procedurally flawed. Rights organizations argue these actions endanger marginalized communities and enable racial profiling.
While Trump has campaigned on reducing illegal immigration, his administration has concurrently tightened legal pathways by imposing higher visa fees and expanding social media monitoring for applicants and residents.
Trump maintains these actions prioritize national security and employment opportunities for U.S. citizens.
(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Sanjeev Miglani)
