WASHINGTON DC: The administration of Donald Trump has introduced a series of major changes to the US immigration system, tightening green card procedures while accelerating deportation-related measures.
The moves come amid growing political tensions in the Senate, where a key immigration and border security bill backed by the administration is facing resistance from within the Republican Party itself.
Tougher green card policy introduced
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on May 22 issued a new policy memorandum significantly restricting the ability of non-immigrants already in the US to apply for permanent residency from within the country.
Under the revised policy, individuals in the US on student, tourist, or temporary work visas will generally no longer be allowed to obtain a green card through adjustment of status unless they can demonstrate “extraordinary circumstances.” Instead, they will be required to return to their home countries and complete consular processing through US embassies.
The memo states that adjustment of status under Section 245 of the Immigration and Nationality Act is not an automatic right, but rather a “discretionary” and “extraordinary” form of relief.
USCIS said officials may now consider attempts to change immigration status without leaving the US as a negative factor, especially if applicants entered on temporary visas with a stated intention to return home.
Authorities will weigh positive factors—such as family ties and good moral character—against negative factors including visa violations, overstays, or false statements.
However, holders of dual-intent visas such as H-1B and L-1, along with refugees and applicants under humanitarian categories, will continue to receive certain legal protections under the policy.
The changes are expected to particularly affect employment-based and family-sponsored green card applicants, who may now need to submit stronger supporting evidence.
USCIS spokesperson Zach Kahler said the policy aims to discourage unlawful residence and restore the original intent of immigration laws.
More immigration judges appointed
In a parallel move to speed up deportation proceedings, the Trump administration has appointed more than 80 new immigration judges, including 77 permanent and five temporary appointments.
The Department of Justice described it as the largest single-day appointment of immigration judges in its history.
The appointments come after the administration dismissed more than 100 judges appointed during the Biden administration, reducing the number of active judges below 600 before restoring it to nearly 700 through recent hiring.
Many of the newly sworn-in judges previously worked as lawyers for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or served as military prosecutors.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche defended the move as necessary to restore the rule of law.
However, the American Immigration Lawyers Association criticized the administration, accusing it of turning immigration judges into enforcement tools rather than impartial adjudicators.
Officials say the number of pending immigration court cases has declined from around four million to 3.5 million since January 2025.
Senate immigration bill faces internal Republican divide
Meanwhile, a major immigration and border security bill backed by the Trump administration is facing uncertainty in the Senate due to opposition from Republican lawmakers.
The controversy intensified after the Justice Department proposed a $1.8 billion “anti-political retaliation fund,” triggering sharp disagreement within the party.
Republican Senators Susan Collins and Thom Tillis have openly opposed the proposal, particularly objecting to the possibility of compensating individuals convicted in connection with the January 6 Capitol riot.
Tillis warned that he could vote against the broader immigration bill unless the fund is removed.
The disagreement has complicated efforts to secure enough Senate support for the legislation, despite Trump’s push to have the bill passed by June 1.
Additional tensions have emerged after Trump publicly criticized Republican Senators Bill Cassidy and John Cornyn, further exposing divisions within the party over immigration strategy and federal spending priorities.
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