Confusion and Worry After Trump Administration’s Abrupt Green Card Changes
The New York Times • • nation
Key Points:
- The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a new policy requiring most immigrants to apply for green cards from their home countries, with permanent residence granted within the U.S. only in "extraordinary circumstances."
- This change means thousands of immigrants currently in the U.S. may have to leave the country before petitioning for permanent residence, disrupting the existing process for many applicants.
- Immigration lawyers and advocacy groups warn the policy could significantly reduce the number of green card applications, noting that in 2024, over 800,000 green cards were granted to individuals already residing in the U.S.
- The new rule particularly impacts immigrants married to U.S. citizens, who have traditionally been able to adjust their status without leaving the country, potentially complicating family-based immigration cases.