Democrat Joe Biden promises to raise the annual refugee cap to 125,000 if he wins Nov. 3.
As many as 1,000 refugees who were ready to travel now may not be eligible because they don't fit into one of the categories, said Mark Hetfield, president of HIAS, a refugee resettlement group.
For example, many Syrians may no longer qualify because no category is for those fleeing war, he said.
The Trump administration also has rolled back other humanitarian protections, like Temporary Protected Status for 400,000 immigrants fleeing natural disasters or violence.
Across the globe, an Iraqi woman whose father helped the U.S. military does not know why her case stalled.