The Trump administration unveiled a policy shift Friday requiring foreigners seeking green cards to return to their home countries to apply, reversing a decades-long practice that allowed legal immigrants to complete the process within the U.S. The change, announced by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), aims to enforce the 'original intent of the law' and close what the administration has termed a 'loophole.'
Impact on Temporary Residents
Under the new policy, temporary residents, including students, workers, and visa holders, must leave the U.S. to apply for permanent residency unless they demonstrate 'extraordinary circumstances.' USCIS confirmed that exceptions may be granted to individuals who provide 'economic benefit' or serve the 'national interest.'
'Our system is designed for them to leave when their visit is over. Their visit should not function as the first step in the Green Card process,' USCIS stated.
Concerns Over Family Separation
Immigration advocates and attorneys expressed concerns that the policy could lead to indefinite family separations, particularly for individuals from countries with disrupted U.S. visa processing or unsafe conditions. 'These policies will effectively create an indefinite separation of families,' warned World Relief, a humanitarian organization.
The policy’s implementation timeline and its impact on pending applications remain unclear. Critics argue that the move aligns with the administration’s broader goal of reducing permanent residency approvals, which serve as a pathway to citizenship.