The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced Wednesday an interim final rule ending automatic extensions for expiring work permits, reversing a Biden-era policy that had stretched renewal extensions from 180 to 540 days. The decision, DHS said, is aimed at tightening screening and vetting processes that had become too lenient under the previous rule.

The move is being cast as a national security measure, designed to ensure every applicant undergoes full eligibility and safety verification before renewal. The new rule takes effect Thursday, upon publication in the Federal Register, and allows 30 days for public comment.

DHS Tightens Vetting and Ends Biden-Era “Convenience Rule”

According to DHS, the expanded 540-day extension period created vulnerabilities in the system by granting continued work authorization without full vetting. The updated rule will restore stricter standards but retain limited exceptions, including for individuals under Temporary Protected Status (TPS).

“USCIS is placing renewed emphasis on robust alien screening and vetting,” said U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Joseph Edlow. “We’re eliminating policies that prioritized aliens’ convenience ahead of Americans’ safety and security.”

The shift represents a sharp departure from the Biden administration’s more lenient approach, which DHS now claims allowed security lapses to occur during the renewal process.

Backlogs and Work Gaps Loom as Processing Delays Persist

The policy change could leave some immigrants without valid work authorization if renewal applications take too long to process. Renewal requests may only be filed six months before expiration, but with persistent backlogs, many applicants already face processing delays that stretch beyond that period.

Prior to 2016, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued interim work permits if renewals weren’t completed in time. That system was replaced with an automatic 180-day extension, which the Biden administration later expanded to 540 days in response to employer complaints about operational uncertainty and renewal delays.

Now, DHS insists that system must be dismantled in favor of stricter oversight.

DHS Cites National Security Cases and Border Pressures

The rule directly blames the Biden administration’s border policies for creating “a historically high influx” of work authorization applications — more than 3 million, according to DHS. The agency pointed to expanded TPS designations and parole programs for nationals of Afghanistan, Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, Ukraine, and Venezuela, who were granted temporary entry and work authorization for two years.

DHS also cited the high-profile case of Mohamed Sabry Soliman, an Egyptian national accused of throwing Molotov cocktails at demonstrators in Boulder, Colorado. Soliman, DHS said, had entered the U.S. in 2022, overstayed his visa, and obtained a work permit tied to a pending asylum claim that was automatically extended for 540 days.

“Granting benefits without proper vetting and full adjudication is contrary to the mission of DHS and poses a threat to the safety and security of the American people,” the interim final rule declared.

Rule Effective Immediately

The new DHS policy will not affect work permits that have already received automatic extensions prior to Thursday’s effective date. However, for millions of others awaiting renewal, it signals a return to shorter extensions, stricter scrutiny, and potential employment gaps if processing continues to lag.

As the 30-day comment period opens, the decision has already reignited debate between those calling for national security vigilance and those warning of economic and humanitarian consequences.