The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that many green card applicants currently in the United States must return to their home countries to complete the application process.
The Guardian reported that foreigners seeking to adjust their immigration status in the US to obtain green cards will now have to apply from outside the country through the State Department.
The USCIS said the change was outlined in a policy memo issued on Friday and has drawn criticism from aid groups, policy analysts, and immigration attorneys.
The memo instructs officers to assess relevant factors and information on a case-by-case basis when determining whether extraordinary relief is warranted.
The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees USCIS, said: “An alien who is in the U.S. temporarily and wants a green card must return to their home country to apply.”
The policy aims to prevent abuse of legal loopholes and ensure proper enforcement of immigration laws, the source added.
According to the report, applying for green cards from within the United States had remained largely unchanged for more than 60 years, and the move is seen as part of stricter immigration policies under Donald Trump’s administration.
Citing data from the Cato Institute, more than one million migrants in the United States are currently waiting to receive green cards.
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