White House Plans Major Shift in Refugee Priorities

White House Plans Major Shift in Refugee Priorities

By: Mary Campbell The White House is reportedly preparing to cap the U.S. refugee admissions at 40,000 for fiscal year 2026, with a striking three‑quarters of these slots—approximately 30,000 places—earmarked specifically for white South Africans, particularly Afrikaners. This represents not only a sharp reduction from the 100,000 refugees admitted under the Biden administration in fiscal […]

U.S. Citizenship Applicants Face Heightened ‘Good Moral Character’ Scrutiny

U.S. Citizenship Applicants Face Heightened ‘Good Moral Character’ Scrutiny

By: Mary Campbell U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has officially intensified its evaluation of the ‘good moral character’ (GMC) standard for lawful permanent residents applying for U.S. citizenship. Under this revised policy, applicants must now substantiate not only the absence of disqualifying behavior, but also demonstrate active, positive contributions to their communities. Expanded GMC […]

Immigration as an Excuse for Autocracy

Immigration as an Excuse for Autocracy

By: Maribel Hastings| America’s Voice |Editorial credit: aaronschwartzphoto / Shutterstock.com Washington, DC: The militarization of immigration policy is in full swing, and the Trump administration has announced that it is speeding up construction of the largest detention center in the United States, logically on a military base, Fort Bliss, in El Paso, Texas. Although the […]

USCIS Issues Guidance Regarding Family-Based Immigration Policy

USCIS Issues Guidance Regarding Family-Based Immigration Policy

Editorial credit: Lyonstock / Shutterstock.com U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is issuing policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual that will enhance our capability to screen and vet family-based immigrant visa petitions. This update explains requirements and adjudication of these petitions, including eligibility criteria, filing, interviews, and decisions.     Fraudulent, frivolous, or otherwise non-meritorious family-based immigrant visa petitions erode confidence in family-based pathways to lawful permanent resident (LPR) status […]

New $250 “Visa Integrity Fee” Could Make Visiting the U.S. Costlier for Many Travelers

New $250 “Visa Integrity Fee” Could Make Visiting the U.S. Costlier for Many Travelers

By Mary Campbell  A controversial new travel fee—dubbed the “visa integrity fee”—was enacted as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill, signed into law on July 4, 2025. It imposes a $250 charge on top of existing visa application fees for most non‑immigrant visa holders, including tourist (B‑1/B‑2), student (F/M), work (H‑1B/H‑4), and exchange (J‑1/J‑2) categories. When […]

Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for the Haitian Community Expiration. Alternative Pathways to Legalization for Haitians and the Impact of President Trump’s Executive Orders on Registration

Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for the Haitian Community Expiration. Alternative Pathways to Legalization for Haitians and the Impact of President Trump’s Executive Orders on Registration

By Brian Figeroux, Esq. | Editorial credit: Phil Pasquini / shutterstock.com  As of March 12, 2025, the status of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for the Haitian community in the United States is undergoing significant changes due to recent policy shifts by the Trump administration. These changes have profound implications for Haitian nationals currently residing in […]

Trump Proposes $5M “Gold Card” Visa to Replace EB-5 Program

Trump Proposes $5M “Gold Card” Visa to Replace EB-5 Program

By Brian Figeroux, Esq. | Editorial credit: mark reinstein / Shutterstock.com President Donald Trump has unveiled a proposal to replace the existing EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program with a new “Gold Card” visa, priced at $5 million. This initiative aims to attract affluent individuals by offering permanent U.S. residency and a pathway to citizenship in exchange […]

What We Know About Trump’s Efforts to Roll Back TPS For Venezuelans and CHNV Parole

What We Know About Trump’s Efforts to Roll Back TPS For Venezuelans and CHNV Parole

By Dara Lind, Immmigration Impact | Editorial credit: Phil Pasquini / shutterstock.com  The American Immigration Council does not endorse or oppose candidates for elected office. We aim to provide analysis regarding the implications of the election on the U.S. immigration system. From his first day in office, President Trump made clear that part of his […]

USCIS Waives COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement for Adjustment of Status to Lawful Permanent Resident Applications

USCIS Waives COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement for Adjustment of Status to Lawful Permanent Resident Applications

By Janet Howard As of January 22, 2025, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has waived the COVID-19 vaccination requirement for individuals applying for adjustment of status to lawful permanent resident (green card) within the United States. This policy change means that applicants are no longer required to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination on […]