Rule intended to encourage them to depart on own.
The Trump administration plans to limit discretionary work authorization for foreigners under final orders of removal who have been temporarily released from government custody on an order of supervision (OSUP).
The proposed rule would align the issuance of discretionary work permits “with the administration’s priorities to protect US workers and strengthen immigration enforcement,†the US Citizenship and Immigration Services said Tuesday.
Orders of supervision allow Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to place conditions on and monitor aliens with final orders of removal who have been temporarily released from DHS custody until DHS has the travel documents necessary to remove the alien from the US, it said.
These orders contain several conditions for release, including a requirement that aliens cooperate with efforts to procure the travel documents for removal, check in with DHS on designated dates, and present themselves for removal once it is arranged.
“Authorizing employment benefits to aliens who have already had due process and have been ordered removed by the US government undermines the rule of law and weakens DHS enforcement and removal operations,†said USCIS Deputy Director for Policy Joseph Edlow.
“This effort would also remove the economic incentive for these aliens to not cooperate in the effort to obtain travel documents to return to their home countries.â€
Under current regulations, an alien who has a final order of removal and who is temporarily released from DHS custody under supervision is generally eligible for an employment authorization document (EAD), USCIS said.
This creates a disincentive for the alien to depart or cooperate with their home country to obtain travel documents to depart the United States, it said.
These aliens have used substantial government resources throughout the removal process and have ultimately been ordered removed from the US by an immigration judge, the agency said.
Under the proposed rule, only a small subset of these aliens who can demonstrate that DHS has determined that their removal from the US is impracticable would remain eligible for discretionary employment authorization, USCIS said.
DHS will require such aliens to establish economic necessity to work, consistent with other discretionary EAD categories, and USCIS will assess whether they warrant a favorable exercise of discretion for a grant of employment authorization.
In addition, aliens who qualify for discretionary employment authorization under the proposed rule and subsequently seek to renew their work authorization would also be required to establish that their employer participates in E-Verify and is in good standing in the program, USCIS said.
The proposed rule also would limit the validity period of the employment authorization for aliens released on an OSUP to one year, regardless of whether it is an initial or a renewal employment authorization.
When a final rule is published, the changes made by the rule will apply to initial and renewal applications filed on or after the final rule’s effective date.
Aliens who are employment-authorized prior to the final rule’s effective date will remain employment authorized until the expiration date on their EAD, unless the EAD is terminated or revoked, USCIS said.
The final rule also would not affect applications to replace EADs granted before the final rule’s effective date, it said.
USCIS is also updating existing policy guidance regarding the exercise of the DHS secretary’s discretion in adjudications of adjustment of status applications.
The update provides a non-exhaustive list of positive and negative factors that may be relevant to whether an adjustment of status applicant warrants a favorable exercise of discretion.
It also lists the privileges, rights and responsibilities of lawful permanent residents (LPRs) as a reference for officers to consider when determining whether the grant of LPR status is in the best interest of the US.
This update will assist officers in making more consistent discretionary decisions by providing a foundation to identify and analyze negative and positive factors in adjustment of status applications, USCIS said.