[Young journalist Hansae Jung] The U.S. Trump administration has decided to significantly reduce the maximum validity period of Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) issued to humanitarian immigrants, such as refugees and asylum applicants, from the current 5 years to 18 months.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on the 4th (local time) that it would implement a policy shortening the maximum validity period of EADs that allow certain immigrants, such as refugees admitted to the U.S., individuals who have applied for asylum, and those with deferred deportation, to reside temporarily and work in the United States.

This policy applies to new EAD applications and renewal applications submitted after the 5th, as well as applications currently pending in the review process.

Joseph Edlow, the director of USCIS, explained that the decision was made to require foreign migrants applying for asylum to renew their work permits more frequently, giving U.S. authorities more opportunities to screen them.

The measure comes as the Trump administration further intensifies its anti-immigration stance following an incident last month in which two National Guard soldiers patrolling an intersection two blocks from the White House were shot by an Afghan immigrant, leaving one dead and the other critically injured.

After the incident, in line with President Trump’s declaration to permanently halt migration to the United States from the developing world), the U.S. government suspended the processing of immigration applications from nationals of 19 countries, including Iran, Yemen, and Afghanistan, and announced that it would review the green cards of individuals from those 19 countries already living in the United States.

▶원문 기사: 트럼프 행정부, 이민자 취업허가 5년→18개월로 대폭 축소

◆이코노미스트가 글로벌 차세대 경제 리더, 청소년 기자단 영 저널리스트와 함께합니다. 영 저널리스트 기자단은 프리미엄 경제지 이코노미스트, 논술 전문 기관 Ni 에듀케이션과 함께 주요 시사 이슈를 팔로우업하고 직접 기획, 취재, 기사 작성 활동을 하며 사회적 문제를 고심하고 해결 방안을 제시하는 과정을 경험하게 됩니다. 이번 기사는 영 저널리스트 기자단이 이코노미스트 기사를 영문으로 번역하며 이슈를 팔로우업한 기사입니다. 차세대 글로벌 경제 리더, <영 저널리스트 with  이코노미스트> 영문 기사는 매주 연재됩니다.

ⓒ이코노미스트(https://economist.co.kr) '내일을 위한 경제뉴스 이코노미스트' 무단 전재 및 재배포 금지