Agency of the U.S. DHS administering naturalization and immigration
A federal judge has ruled that Trump-era USCIS restrictions on asylum, work permits, green cards and citizenship were unlawful, restoring standard adjudication and reopening backlogged applications. The decision centers on policies that limited decisions for millions of immigrants from 39 countries, leaving many in legal limbo and denying work authorization.
The Department of Homeland Security has replaced the long-standing "duration-of-status" system with fixed admission periods: most international student and exchange visas will be capped at four years, and foreign journalist visas will be limited to 240 days (90 days for mainland Chinese nationals). The rule will take effect 60 days after publication in the Federal Register and requires extensions or re-entry to remain beyond the limit.
The federal policy known as “public charge” has reappeared in the Federal Register and will be published on July 20. It requires green-card applicants to prove they will not become a financial burden. The rule, first introduced in 2020 and later reversed, is taking effect on September 18 under a renewed hardline immigration stance by the current administration. Immigrant-rights groups warn of confusion and fear.
The Supreme Court is being pressed as states challenge President Trump’s March executive order to create a national voter list and restrict mail ballots. Courts have blocked key provisions, while the administration seeks emergency relief ahead of the midterms.
TPS protections for Haitians and other countries are being rolled back by a Supreme Court decision that leaves hundreds of thousands at risk. Work permits have expired or are in jeopardy, forcing employers to suspend workers as courts navigate the policy’s end.
Lawmakers have demanded accountability after reports show dozens of parents and spouses of active-duty service members are detained or deported as the administration tightens immigration enforcement, reversing decades of bipartisan shielding. The AP investigation highlights disruptions to readiness and family stability amid ongoing security commitments.
Federal authorities have arrested 11 individuals tied to a multiyear scheme that manufactured more than 1,000 sham marriages between U.S. citizens and immigrants to obtain permanent residency. Defendants faced charges including marriage fraud, immigration document fraud, and conspiring to encourage unlawful residence.
A federal judge has vacated a policy that would have blocked immigrant visas to 75 countries, ruling Secretary of State Rubio exceeded his authority and violated the Immigration and Nationality Act. The decision reinforces consular officers’ control over visa eligibility and sparks renewed debate over the administration’s immigration agenda.
The US DHS has published a draft rule to make a $103,265 H-1B visa fee permanent, following a prior $100,000 temporary charge that faced legal challenges. The rule adds to existing costs and would not apply to certain in-country, student-visa holders. Courts are weighing the legality as lawsuits question presidential authority and Congress approval.
The State Department has said it will revoke B‑1 and B‑2 business and tourist visas issued between 2016 and 2026 for people who have sought or are seeking asylum. The action, coordinated with DHS and described as rolling, would reclassify many pending asylum holders and would not necessarily cause immediate deportations; officials expect legal challenges.
The State Department has paused all immigrant visa applications to reassess public-charge rules, while preparing to revoke up to 200,000 asylum-related business and tourist visas. Officials say the pause is temporary and tied to a global training program for consular staff, with interviews being rescheduled into the fall. Legal challenges are anticipated as the administration tightens enforcement of immigration policy.
A whistleblower alleges the DHS’s Unlawful Voter Initiative directs officers to review state voter records to flag alleged unlawful voters, risking false citizenship findings. Senators request an immediate halt and more information as questions about data reliability and legal exposure rise.