Trump Administration Restricts Asylum and Green Card Processes

The Donald Trump administration is implementing sweeping changes to the U.S. immigration system to reduce backlogs and discourage illegal residency. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a directive requiring most foreign nationals currently in the U.S. to leave the country and apply for permanent residency at consulates in their home countries, reversing the decades-long practice of adjustment of status.

Although the U.S. Department of Homeland Security briefly claimed on May 29 that this was a reminder of existing discretionary authority and that most applicants could remain in the U.S., the administration subsequently formalized the requirement for applicants to return home except in extraordinary circumstances. Officials stated the shift ensures the system functions as intended and reduces incentives for remaining in the U.S. without legal status.

Simultaneously, the Department of Homeland Security is developing a regulation allowing USCIS to reject asylum applications without interviews if filed more than one year after the applicant's arrival. These rejected individuals would be sent directly to the Department of Justice's immigration court system for deportation proceedings. Administration officials argue the measure combats fraud and addresses a backlog of over one million claims. Critics, including the Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project, warn that these rules will separate families and wrongfully trigger deportations for immigrants navigating complex legal processes.