Trending Now - Trump's Immigration Directive Sparks Green Card Concerns
WHO:
AP News - Immigration attorney Flavia Santos Lloyd stated that the new policy would slow down applications and has a "chilling effect."
AP News - Immigration attorney Charles Kuck described the policy as "an attempt to try to limit and scare people away from the legal immigration process."
AP News - Shev Dalal-Dheini, senior director of government relations at the American Immigration Lawyers Association, noted that the guidance may target individuals who overstayed their visas.
AP News - President Donald Trump’s administration, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), immigration attorney Flavia Santos Lloyd, immigration attorney Charles Kuck, Shev Dalal-Dheini (senior director of government relations at the American Immigration Lawyers Association), Kevin Miner (partner with the immigration law firm Fragomen), Matthew Soerens (U.S. director of church mobilization for World Relief), Zach Kahler (USCIS spokesperson), Lynden Melmed (partner at BAL and former USCIS chief counsel), Loren Locke (immigration attorney), Brian Hunt (counsel at immigration firm Fragomen), Otto Van Maerssen (senior partner at Bay Immigration Law), TJ Albrecht (managing director at Bay Immigration), Divij Kishore (founder of Flagship Law).
WHAT:
AP News - USCIS announced that green card applicants must return to their home countries to apply, except in "extraordinary circumstances."
Business Insider - Immigration lawyers reported a surge in client inquiries, with many clients asking practical questions about their green card applications.
AP News - USCIS announced that green card seekers must apply from their home countries instead of from within the U.S., barring some unspecified exceptions.
AP News - The new policy potentially affects hundreds of thousands of green card applicants annually.
Business Insider - USCIS stated that "adjustment of status" would only be granted in "extraordinary circumstances."
Business Insider - Immigration lawyers reported a surge in client inquiries following the announcement, with many clients expressing panic and confusion.
WHERE:
AP News - The announcement was made by USCIS in Washington, D.C.
Business Insider - Immigration lawyers across the U.S. reported increased client communication.
WHEN:
AP News - The announcement was made on a Friday, with implications for future green card applications.
Business Insider - The memo was released before a holiday weekend.
WHY:
AP News - The policy aims to limit and deter legal immigration pathways, shifting focus from undocumented migrants to legal applicants.
Business Insider - The announcement created uncertainty in a previously stable immigration process, prompting concerns from employers and immigration lawyers.
HOW:
AP News - USCIS issued a more detailed policy memo instructing officers to apply existing discretionary standards more rigorously.
Business Insider - Immigration firms experienced a significant increase in client outreach over the holiday weekend, with many clients seeking reassurance about their green card applications.
AP News - USCIS indicated that only individuals providing an "economic benefit" or in the "national interest" might apply for green cards from within the U.S.
AP News - Immigration experts noted that the policy memo instructed officers to apply existing discretionary standards more rigorously.
Business Insider - Immigration lawyers described the process of client outreach as chaotic, with many clients seeking immediate clarification on their status and future applications.
(UPDATED May 27, 2026 23:23 UTC)
USCIS has announced a new policy requiring green card applicants to return to their home countries to apply, except in extraordinary circumstances, which immigration attorneys say will slow down applications and create a chilling effect. Lawyers are reporting a surge in inquiries from clients who are seeking clarity and reassurance about their green card processes, as the policy appears to target individuals who have overstayed their visas. Additionally, USCIS has issued a detailed memo instructing officers to apply existing discretionary standards more rigorously, prompting a significant increase in outreach to immigration firms over the holiday weekend.
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(UPDATED May 27, 2026 18:05 UTC)
USCIS has announced a significant policy change requiring green card seekers to apply from their home countries, with some exceptions, which could impact hundreds of thousands of applicants each year. This new directive, aimed at limiting legal immigration pathways, has led to a surge in inquiries from concerned clients to immigration lawyers across the U.S., who are now facing a chaotic situation as they seek to clarify the implications of this announcement. Under the new guidelines, only individuals deemed to provide an "economic benefit" or in the "national interest" may apply for green cards from within the U.S., raising uncertainty in a previously stable immigration process.