Syrian refugees and residents in Egypt now face an uncertain future as new regulations could threaten their right to remain in the country following the ousting of Bashar al-Assad earlier this month.

After the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham captured Damascus on December 8, forcing Assad into exile after a brutal 13-year civil war, European nations swiftly suspended Syrian asylum applications. Other countries, including Egypt, are also adjusting to the shifting political situation.

Last week, Egypt ratified a new law granting the government the authority to determine refugee status, with no decision yet on whether Syrians in the country will be considered refugees under the new framework, according to security sources. The U.N. refugee agency, UNHCR, estimates that six million Syrians are living as refugees globally, mostly in neighboring countries, with one million expected to return within the next six months. However, many Syrian refugees fear they may be forced to return to Syria.

Egypt has also suspended the renewal of residency permits, which many Syrians hold for purposes such as tourism, education, or business, pending security checks, security sources told Reuters.

Many Syrian residents are unaware of the new rules and remain apprehensive about returning to Syria. Ahmed al-Akhras, a business owner, expressed concerns about the situation in Syria, citing the uncertainty of the future and the stability of the new leadership. His residency renewal was delayed, prompting him to apply for refugee status with the UNHCR.

“We are afraid of the unknown,” said another Syrian resident, who has lived in Egypt for 12 years. “We don’t know who the new person in charge is, or what the future holds.”

Residency decisions will be influenced by security concerns, with some sources noting that Egypt’s internal security may be at risk due to the recent changes in Syria. While Egypt has largely maintained a diplomatic stance toward the upheaval in Syria, state-controlled media have referred to the rebels as "terrorist" groups.

With Egypt already grappling with its own economic challenges, refugees are often seen as a burden. The UNHCR estimates that there are around 800,000 refugees in Egypt, including approximately 159,000 Syrians, with hundreds of thousands more holding residency permits, many of whom own businesses.

“There is no other country in the world hosting this many refugees and treating them as Egyptians, despite not being a rich country,” Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said last week, highlighting that refugees in Egypt have access to free education, healthcare, and subsidies without being housed in camps.

The new law, ratified on December 17, shifts asylum responsibilities from the U.N. to the Egyptian government, allowing it to collect more data on refugees. Lawmakers, such as Freddy Elbaiady, argue that increasing the number of registered refugees will help secure more international aid for Egypt.

However, rights groups have criticized the law for its ambiguous definition of a refugee and the power it grants authorities to deport individuals they deem unqualified. Although there have been no signs of mass deportations, experts believe Egypt’s perception of Syrians as a group needing protection may change as the situation stabilizes.

In response to inquiries from Reuters, the UNHCR stated it would continue to advocate for clearer asylum procedures in Egypt.