Trump Administration’s New Green Card Policy Sparks Concerns Among Legal Immigrants

Washington, May 2026: The administration of US President Donald Trump has introduced a major immigration policy shift that could compel many immigrants legally residing in the United States to leave the country and apply for permanent residency from their home nations instead of completing the process within the US. The move has triggered widespread criticism from immigration advocacy groups, Democratic lawmakers and local officials, who warn that it could disrupt families, careers and businesses across the country.

The new policy was announced through a memorandum issued by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The memo reiterates that “adjustment of status” — the long-standing process allowing eligible immigrants to apply for Green Cards while remaining in the United States — is not an automatic right but “a matter of discretion and administrative grace.”

According to the revised guidelines, immigration officers will now assess Green Card applications on a “case-by-case basis” and determine whether applicants qualify for what USCIS described as an “extraordinary form of relief.” The policy also stresses that adjustment of status was never intended to replace regular visa processing through US consulates abroad.

USCIS spokesman Zach Kahler defended the decision, saying the administration was restoring the “original intent” of immigration law.

“We’re returning to the original intent of the law to ensure aliens navigate our nation’s immigration system properly,” Kahler said. “From now on, an alien who is in the US temporarily and wants a Green Card must return to their home country to apply, except in extraordinary circumstances.”

Kahler argued that the change would help reduce visa overstays and allow the agency to concentrate resources on higher-priority cases, including visas for victims of violent crimes, human trafficking survivors and citizenship applications.

The policy is expected to affect a wide range of temporary visa holders, including international students, researchers, tourists and highly skilled professionals working under H-1B visas. For decades, many such immigrants have relied on adjustment of status provisions to transition to permanent residency without leaving the United States after securing family- or employer-sponsored Green Card approvals.

Immigration advocacy organisations reacted sharply to the announcement. Todd Schulte, president of FWD.us, described the policy as a dramatic break from decades of established practice.

“Today’s announcement is a stark, deeply harmful upheaval of more than 70 years of legislative, administrative and judicial precedent,” Schulte said. “It will create chaos and impose massive costs on immigrants who have lived and worked legally in the United States for many years.”

He accused the administration of attempting to make America “a cruel place for immigrants” and warned that the decision could severely destabilise the legal immigration system.

Schulte noted that most Green Card recipients currently complete the process while staying in the US, a system that has existed since the 1950s. He said forcing applicants to leave the country during processing could result in prolonged separations and financial uncertainty.

Democratic leaders also voiced concern. Congresswoman Grace Meng, Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), criticised the policy for targeting legal immigrants rather than undocumented offenders.

“The Trump administration is once again proving that they are not going after the ‘worst of the worst.’ Instead, they are blatantly attacking legal immigration, with family separation at the center of its agenda,” Meng said.

She warned that immigrants from more than 100 countries already affected by earlier travel and visa restrictions could face separation from their families “for years, if not indefinitely.”

Local officials also expressed concern over the broader economic impact. Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich said immigrant workers play a critical role in the American economy and community life.

“These are our neighbors, coworkers, business owners, researchers, health care workers, teachers and entrepreneurs,” Elrich said. “When the federal government treats legal immigrants as disposable or unwelcome, it weakens our ability to attract and retain the people who help drive innovation, create jobs and strengthen our economy.”

The policy could have especially significant consequences for Indian-origin professionals, particularly technology workers on H-1B visas. Because of long Green Card backlogs and country-specific visa caps, many Indian families depend heavily on adjustment of status rules to remain in the United States while awaiting permanent residency approval.

Immigration attorneys and advocacy groups have warned that requiring applicants to leave the country during processing could disrupt employment, education and long-term residency plans for thousands of skilled workers and their families.

(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)