1. USCIS Shortens the Time to Challenge Refugee Status Termination From 30 to 10 Days
October 14, 2026
A new DHS rule took effect today, reducing from 30 to 10 days the time available to respond to a USCIS Notice of Intent to Terminate refugee status.
The rule applies to people who received refugee status before entering the United States if USCIS determines that they were not eligible for refugee status at the time of admission. After receiving the notice, a person will have only 10 days to submit objections and evidence or request an interview with USCIS.
The new rule does not automatically apply to people who filed Form I-589 from inside the United States or to all previously admitted refugees.
Source: Federal Register
2. DHS Finalizes the End of Automatic 540-Day Work Permit Extensions
October 14, 2026
DHS today finalized the rule eliminating automatic extensions of employment authorization documents (EADs) when a Form I-765 renewal application is timely filed. The rule applies to asylum applicants and certain other categories that previously qualified for automatic extensions of up to 540 days.
Importantly, this is not a new restriction introduced today. The policy has already been in effect since October 30, 2025, and DHS has now finalized it without changes.
Filing Form I-765 to renew an EAD after October 30, 2025, no longer automatically extends the validity of the existing EAD. If the new permit is not issued before the old one expires, employment authorization may be interrupted.
Source: Federal Register
3. USCIS Proposes Reconsidering Previously Approved Employment Petitions at Every Extension
October 14, 2026
DHS published a proposed rule that would eliminate the requirement for USCIS to give deference to prior favorable decisions when reviewing extensions of employment-based petitions. The change would affect H-1B, L-1, O-1, TN and other categories processed through Form I-129.
Currently, USCIS generally gives weight to a prior approval when the employer, employee and circumstances of the case have not changed. The proposed rule would allow USCIS officers to reassess all eligibility requirements even when there have been no changes since the previous approval.
The rule is not yet in effect. The public comment period will remain open until November 13, 2026, after which DHS may issue a final rule.
Source: Federal Register
4. Newly Appointed Immigration Judges Deny Asylum More Often
October 13, 2026
An analysis by Bloomberg Law found that immigration judges appointed by the current administration denied asylum in 49% of the applications they decided between October 2025 and August 2026. Among previously appointed judges who remained on the bench, the denial rate was 41%.
According to I-GUIDE statistics, when looking specifically at hearings held in 2026, newly appointed judges approve asylum at about half the rate of experienced judges: 4.6% compared with 9.2%.
Sources: Bloomberg Law | I-GUIDE STAT
5. Russian Citizen and Six Other Immigrants File Class Action Against ICE Over Property That Was Not Returned
October 13, 2026
The ACLU announced a class-action lawsuit against ICE on behalf of seven people whose personal documents and belongings were not returned after they were released from immigration detention.
One of the plaintiffs is Russian citizen Vladimir Izmailov, who is awaiting a decision on his asylum application. According to the ACLU, ICE has kept his employment authorization document and other personal belongings for more than five months, preventing him from fully returning to work and forcing him to borrow money to support his family.
Other plaintiffs report that ICE has retained passports, Social Security cards, phones and car keys. The plaintiffs are asking the court to require ICE to return property after a person's release when there is no lawful basis to continue holding it.
The court has not yet ruled on the merits of the lawsuit.
Source: ACLU
I-GUIDE is an independent informational project and is not affiliated with USCIS, DHS, EOIR, or any other U.S. government agency. This material is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
