Latest news with #workpermits
CBS News
2 days ago
- Politics
- CBS News
South Florida teen fears for family's future as proposed rule threatens asylum seekers' work permits
A South Florida teenager is voicing concern for his family's future as reports circulate that a possible Trump administration regulation could strip work permits from many asylum seekers. The regulation could affect Venezuelans like his father, who fled political turmoil for a better life in the United States. "He came here to fight for us" Sebastian Latuche, 15, a ninth grader at a South Florida high school, says the potential change is weighing heavily on his family. "It just hurts me seeing him like this, worrying him too much. He came here to fight for us, to give us a better life," Sebastian told CBS News Miami. His father, Javier Latuche, has lived in the U.S. for 11 years after leaving Venezuela, where his business was confiscated by the Maduro regime. Now a small business owner running a real estate agency, Javier said he's deeply unsettled by reports of looming restrictions on work permits for asylum seekers. "I am scared of having my work permit revoked," he said, despite having applied for both Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and asylum. "I haven't been able to sleep, I could not work today, I feel extremely vulnerable," added the father of two, including an eight-year-old U.S. citizen. Sebastian echoed the fear gripping his household. "I'm worried because of the situation. Me, my dad and my mom, where we don't have papers yet." Community leaders warn of mental toll on families Venezuelan and immigrant rights activists gathered Wednesday at the Arepazo, a popular Venezuelan meeting spot in the City of Doral, to voice concerns about the potential policy's emotional toll, particularly on children. "The emotional toll, fear, and legal uncertainty are severely affecting the mental health of thousands of migrant children," said human rights activist Juan Correa Villalonga. Venezuelan activist Helen Villalonga pleaded for compassion. "What did we do to you Donald Trump to deserve this? Many of my people believed in you, trusted you to change Venezuela, not destroy our families." Two officials from the Department of Homeland Security told CBS News that the Trump administration is considering a regulation that would prevent most asylum seekers from obtaining work permits. Though no public announcement has been made, anxiety is spreading throughout immigrant communities. "Who can live in this city or anywhere in the U.S. without a work permit?" said José Antonio Colina of the Venezuelan Political Persecuted Exiles group. In a statement to CBS News, DHS declined to confirm the reports, stating it does not comment on the "deliberate process or possible decision making." However, the department added: "Over the previous years, the Biden administration eviscerated the integrity of America's asylum system. The department is exploring all possible options to protect our national security and increase program integrity." A teen's hope for stability For Sebastian, the immigration debate is not about politics. It's about family. "Now it's just getting a little harder than my parents imagined it to be. They came here for me and my brother."
CBS News
3 days ago
- General
- CBS News
Trump officials crafting rule to prevent asylum-seekers from getting work permits
The Trump administration is considering a regulation that would prevent most asylum-seekers from getting work permits, potentially upending longstanding U.S. immigration policy, two Department of Homeland Security officials told CBS News. A proposal by officials at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services would amount to an indefinite pause on the U.S. government's decades-old policy of allowing migrants with pending asylum claims to work in the country lawfully while their cases are decided, the DHS officials said, requesting anonymity to discuss internal deliberations. The proposed changes — which have not been previously reported — would add yet another layer to President Trump's government-wide immigration crackdown, targeting a massively backlogged asylum system that his top aides have argued is being systematically exploited by economic migrants. But a halt to work permits for asylum-seekers would also trigger concerns among advocates that it could prevent migrants from supporting themselves and their families, and drive them to work illegally in the underground economy. Since the 1990s, U.S. law has allowed immigration officials to grant work permits to asylum applicants if their cases have been pending for at least 180 days. Generally speaking, that has allowed asylum applicants to request a work permit 150 days after they make their claim. Those eligible can be granted the permit after another 30 days. But a regulation under internal consideration by the Trump administration would suspend the issuance of new work permits to asylum-seekers until USCIS decides all asylum claims within an average of 180 days, the DHS officials said. That timeframe would be exceedingly difficult to meet in the near future, given massive case backlogs and operational constraints. Last year, for example, a federal government watchdog found that over 77% of the asylum applications before USCIS had been pending for beyond 180 days. Nearly 40% of applications remained unresolved after two years. Even if the 180-day processing average is reached, the proposal would require asylum-seekers to wait one year until after they file their application — instead of six months — to be eligible for a work permit, the DHS officials said. It's unclear when the regulation may be publicly announced, or if it will be altered before being finalized. Representatives for the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees USCIS, did not respond to requests for comment. In a statement to CBS News, the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees USCIS, said it does not comment on the "deliberative process or possible decision making." "Over the previous four years, the Biden administration eviscerated the integrity of America's asylum system. The Department is exploring all possible options to protect our national security and increase program integrity," DHS said in its statement. "DHS is working to mitigate all forms of fraud and abuse." The changes under consideration by the Trump administration would apply to asylum seekers with pending applications sent to USCIS and those in deportation proceedings before the immigration courts, which are overseen by the Justice Department. Asylum can be granted to foreigners on U.S. soil who prove they are fleeing persecution due to their nationality, race, religion, political views or membership in a social group. While factors like nationality and legal representation play a key role, many applicants do not ultimately meet the high legal threshold to win asylum, government figures show. Still, over the past decade, amid record arrivals of migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border, the number of asylum applications has ballooned. USCIS is overseeing roughly 1.5 million asylum applications, while the immigration courts are reviewing another 2 million, according to government data. The plan under consideration would seek to eliminate what Trump administration officials have described as a magnet for migrants using the asylum system simply to work in the U.S. It echoes a 2020 rule issued by the first Trump administration that sought to increase the waiting period for asylum applicants requesting work authorization from six months to a year and impose other restrictions on eligibility for work permits. The proposed rule would also be the latest step taken by the second Trump administration to make the U.S. inhospitable for asylum-seekers. Immediately after returning to the White House in January, President Trump all but closed the U.S. asylum system, giving border agents the power to summarily deport most migrants on the grounds the country is facing an "invasion." That emergency order is being challenged by pro-immigrant advocates, who say it ignores American asylum law. Conchita Cruz, the co-executive director of the Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project, a group that supports those with asylum claims, said efforts to curtail work permits for the migrants she serves would hurt U.S. communities and employers. "Asylum seekers are playing critical roles in a wide array of jobs — they are the doctors and the people cleaning the hospitals," Cruz said.
Zawya
09-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Kuwait suspends hiring of unvetted expats
KUWAIT CITY - The Public Authority for Manpower (PAM) has introduced a new regulation for issuing work permits for specific categories, reports Al-Seyassah daily. Workers requiring security screening must first obtain approval from PAM before seeking security clearance from the Ministry of Interior. Meanwhile, informed sources said PAM will continue to accept work permits for doctors, engineers, and government contract workers from Egypt, along with a few exceptional cases. In other news, Minister of Defense and Acting Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah Ali Al-Sabah has issued Ministerial Circular No. 1/2025 to suspend changes to the academic qualifications or professions of expatriates recruited on work permits or transferred to the private sector, reports. In this regard, the Public Authority for Manpower (PAM) explained that the circular aims to regulate the labor market, ensure compatibility between academic specialization and job roles, and promote equal job opportunities. The circular, which was published on the PAM's X account, states that, in line with procedures regulating academic qualifications and professions approved by PAM, amendments to the academic qualifications or job titles of expatriate workers recruited with work permits or transferred to the private sector are suspended in cases where the requested amendment involves a higher educational level that is not compatible with the nature of the profession for which they were originally hired or transferred. Arab Times | © Copyright 2024, All Rights Reserved Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. ( arabtimes
Bloomberg
08-05-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
What the US Would Lose If Trump Pushes Out Legal Immigrants
By and Augusta Saraiva Save All over America, companies and communities that have come to rely on newly arrived immigrants to make their business models work are in for a rude wake-up call: President Donald Trump is intent on shutting down that labor pipeline. The migrant workforce that's been behind the bulk of US job creation since 2020 is under threat from both directions: Trump is pushing to strip legal protections and accompanying work permits from hundreds of thousands of people already in the US at the same time his border crackdown has pretty much stopped new arrivals.
Zawya
08-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Amendment to work permits cap approved in Bahrain
Bahrain - Legislators have unanimously approved a proposed amendment to the 2006 Labour Market Regulatory Law that mandates the inclusion of a maximum cap on work permits, as part of the national labour market plan. Parliament's services committee chairwoman MP Jalila Al Sayed explained that the amendment aims to curb over-reliance on foreign labour by tightening controls over the issuance of permits by the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA). 'The goal is to enhance job opportunities for Bahrainis, reduce economic outflows through remittances and encourage the recruitment of qualified foreign professionals committed to local laws,' she said. However, acting Labour Minister and Legal Affairs Minister Yousif Khalaf said it was impractical to force the cap on permits. 'The current law gives the minister power to introduce a cap, if necessary, depending on circumstances,' he said. 'Enforcing it would mean several vital infrastructure and investments could be harmed if we are unable to get more workers when needed. 'In 2019-2020, expat work permits dropped by 21 per cent due to the Covid-19 pandemic, then increased by 25pc in the next two years. So it is more of a dynamic approach rather than enforcement as the country needs to fast-track development.' During the debate, MPs also raised issues such as rising inflation, the presence of unlicensed street vendors and concerns about public order, calling for stronger measures to uphold Bahrain's economic and social stability. Parliament first deputy speaker MP Abdulnabi Salman said expats on vocational work permits were now competing with Bahrainis by launching food trucks, and selling fruits, vegetables and milk on the roadside. 'When we have no cap on expats, it is expected that they will come to the country en masse and take up jobs and businesses intended for Bahrainis,' he said. 'Even the crime rate is up and Interior Ministry statistics show that mostly expats are involved, the case of bootleggers in Eker being a recent example.' Meanwhile, Strategic Thinking Bloc spokesman MP Khalid Bu Onk recounted how a fellow MP had BD3,000 stolen from his car by an unlicensed food delivery driver. He called for stricter enforcement against illegal workers. He also said that his domestic worker had fled two days ago. 'Now I'm required to pay for her return ticket, while those who helped her escape face no accountability,' he said. He urged the government to abolish the current expat vocational labour registration system, arguing that it has facilitated serious violations and imposed economic, social, and security burdens on citizens. 'We must replace it with a more disciplined system that protects society and reduces illegal labour,' he said, calling for urgent reforms and a review of policies contributing to the problem. The government, however, cautioned that flexibility in labour market regulation remains critical to adapt to changing economic needs. LMRA chief executive Nibras Talib echoed this view, emphasising that the current law already enables responsive adjustments to market dynamics. The Bahrain Chamber expressed concerns that rigid caps could undermine the labour market's agility and impede the private sector's capacity to respond to fluctuations in demand. The chamber advocated for a broader legislative framework that preserves flexibility while supporting economic growth. Meanwhile, the General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions welcomed the amendment as a positive step towards increasing employment opportunities for Bahraini citizens. The Bahrain Recruitment Agencies Association, however, warned that the measure might conflict with Bahrain's Economic Vision 2030 and impact sectors such as domestic labour recruitment. They called for clearer definitions of targeted labour categories and for the LMRA to conduct periodic market studies. The legislation has been forwarded to the Shura Council for review. mohammed@ Top stories for today: School probedINDIA ATTACKS: Pakistan downs two jets after three killedGreen light for new corporate tax Copyright 2022 Al Hilal Publishing and Marketing Group Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
