The local authorities in northeast Syria have demanded all Arab refugees from all Syrian regions leave the areas controlled by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) unless they have a sponsor for their residence.

This step, taken by the local councils of the Autonomous Administration in North and East Syria, comes with the implementation of a law the administration issued on May 27 requiring displaced persons to have a sponsor from among the original population as a condition for the residence in its areas of control. The conditions for such sponsorship differ from one region to another.

The sponsorship requires one of the original residents of the village or town to sponsor the displaced person before the local council by bringing a paper from the self-directed commune designated by the Autonomous Administration, in addition to a lease agreement and a personal photo of the sponsored person.

The SDF also requires displaced persons to obtain an expatriate card to be able to enter or remain in the areas under its control. This card is valid for six months, and the applicant must submit a copy of their ID and the lease agreement, in addition to having a sponsor from the region in which the applicant resides.