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People wait in line outside the USCIS office in New York. — Reuters/File
– USCIS announces a new policy memo.
– The policy aims to allow the agency to focus on other cases: USCIS
– This change is part of Trump’s efforts to tighten immigration laws.
The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) revealed on Friday that foreign nationals wanting to adjust their immigration status to obtain green cards will now need to do so from outside the United States through the State Department, drawing criticism from aid organizations.
In a policy memo, USCIS instructed officers to evaluate each case individually, considering relevant factors and details to determine if extraordinary relief is justified.
“Individuals in the U.S. temporarily and seeking a Green Card must return to their home country to apply,” stated the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees USCIS.
“This policy aligns our immigration system with the law’s intent and helps prevent the exploitation of loopholes.”
USCIS believes the new approach will enable the agency to allocate resources more efficiently and process other cases more swiftly.
HIAS, an refugee assistance organization that supports various immigrant groups, criticized the policy, claiming it forces survivors of trafficking, abuse, and neglect who fled dangerous conditions to return to the countries they escaped from just to process their green card applications and gain permanent residency.
Friday’s policy revision is the latest move in a series of steps taken by President Donald Trump over the past year to restrict migration to the U.S.
Last year, the administration cut back on visa durations for students, cultural exchange visitors, and journalists.
In January, the State Department announced that it had revoked more than 100,000 visas since Trump assumed office the previous year.
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