Recently, the White House announced sweeping changes to the immigration laws. These changes can potentially affect how some immigrants obtain green cards.
The administration now requires those seeking green cards to apply from their home countries. Most applicants who are already in the United States now have to self-deport and return to the countries they fled to reapply.
Who will be affected?
A lack of clarity in the requirements has many immigrants worried about their futures. While the policy will likely face legal challenges, the full reverberations of the law are still uncertain.
What is certain is that these new requirements can have a chilling effect on the immigration process itself and on immigrant communities specifically.
Are there any exceptions?
Probably. Those who came to the United States on employment-based visas (H-1B) may be exempt. Protected classes of refugees should receive those protections as well. How those on humanitarian parole would be affected is still unknown.
Anyone who remains in the USA on expired visas may become targets of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. Another concern arises from the corporations that employ immigrants. They expressed concerns about these changes, raising worries that companies may choose not to seek green cards for their workers.
Are you worried about your status?
Seeing pathways to legal immigration closing, immigrants are right to be concerned about how the new laws will affect their legal status here in the United States. The answers now are not clear, but it makes good sense to consult with your legal team about any potential upheavals.
By working closely with both the community and legal advocates, green card-seekers can pursue the most optimal solutions for their circumstances.