dailyloe.com – The Shapiro Administration is leading a multi-state coalition opposing a federal proposal that would restrict work authorization for asylum seekers. The coalition includes the Maine Department of Labor, Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry, and Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries. They urge the federal government to withdraw a proposal that would delay or deny lawful work authorization for asylum seekers.
The proposal would prevent asylum seekers from legally earning a living. It would make workers more vulnerable to exploitation and worsen workforce shortages in key industries. The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) and the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (PA DHS) filed comments opposing the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) proposed rule.
The proposed rule is called Employment Authorization Reform for Asylum Applicants. According to a release, the federal proposal would drastically restrict access to lawful work authorization for asylum seekers. It would prevent them from legally earning a living while they wait for the federal government to process their asylum case.
L&I Secretary Nancy Walker said in a statement: “Governor Shapiro has made clear that Pennsylvania will stand up for workers and push back when federal actions threaten workers, employers, and communities across our commonwealth.” She added: “This proposal would make it harder for people who are lawfully seeking protection to support themselves and their families through work.”
Walker said the proposal would increase the risk of exploitation and make labor law enforcement more difficult. She said it would also worsen workforce shortages in industries that Pennsylvania families and employers rely on every day. Asylum seekers may currently receive an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) after their applications have been pending for 180 days.
DHS seeks to extend the waiting period to apply for work authorization to 365 days. The agency also wants to create an automatic pause on initial EAD applications when average affirmative asylum processing times exceed 180 days. The federal government estimates that pause could last for decades.
This would effectively prohibit those fleeing persecution from ever receiving work authorization. The coalition of state labor agencies is urging the federal government to withdraw the proposal. They argue it would harm workers, employers, and communities.
