U.S. Office of Refugee Resettlement Proposes Changes to Health Assessment and Intervention Forms, Including Data Sharing with DHS

What changed

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has decided to set aside certain federal, state, and other legal requirements related to the environment and land use in New Mexico. This action, which started on 2 October 2026, aims to allow for the swift construction of physical barriers and roads in a specific part of the U.S. Border Patrol El Paso Sector. This measure directly helps to speed up border security building projects by overriding legal rules that might otherwise cause delays.

What changed

The United States has set a maximum limit of 17,500 refugee admissions for the financial year 2027, with the main focus on admitting Afrikaners from South Africa. This decision is officially confirmed in Presidential Determination No. 2026-24, which the President signed on 25 September 2026 and was published in the Federal Register on 2 October. It allows for the admission of up to 17,500 refugees during the financial year, which runs from 1 October 2026 to 30 September 2027. The determination says these admissions are justified because of humanitarian concerns or because they are otherwise in the national interest.

What changed

The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) has published adjusted fees for Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 for several Department of Homeland Security (DHS) forms when filed with the EOIR, including Form I-485, Form I-589 (Annual Asylum Fee), Form I-601, and Form I-821. This statutory inflation adjustment takes effect on 1 October 2026, as required by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). Applicants must ensure all relevant filings submitted on or after this date include the new fee amounts, otherwise applications will be rejected.

What changed

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has implemented an inflation-based increase for certain immigration-related fees, effective from 16 October 2026. This adjustment, mandated by H.R. 1, impacts specific application fees, including those for asylum applications, travel documents, employment authorisation, and Temporary Protected Status. Requests postmarked on or after this date must include the new, higher fee, otherwise they will be rejected. This ensures ongoing alignment with inflationary costs as specified in the legislation.