The Trump administration has released a regulatory reform that could send thousands of green card applicants back to their home countries while their applications are considered.
Immigration lawyers said hundreds of thousands of people who have temporary work visas and are seeking green cards could be impacted, according toABC.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced the change in a news release on itswebsite.
The release said that “consistent with long-standing immigration law and immigration court decisions, aliens seeking adjustment of status must do so through consular processing via the Department of State outside of the country.”
“Officers are directed to consider all relevant factors and information on a case-by-case basis when determining whether an alien warrants this extraordinary form of relief,” the release said.
“We’re returning to the original intent of the law to ensure aliens navigate our nation’s immigration system properly,” agency representative Zach Kahler said in the news release.
“From now on, an alien who is in the U.S. temporarily and wants a Green Card must return to their home country to apply, except in extraordinary circumstances. This policy allows our immigration system to function as the law intended instead of incentivizing loopholes,” he said.
Kahler said the change will reduce deportations.
“When aliens apply from their home country, it reduces the need to find and remove those who decide to slip into the shadows and remain in the U.S. illegally after being denied residency,” he said.
“Nonimmigrants, like students, temporary workers, or people on tourist visas, come to the U.S. for a short time and for a specific purpose. Our system is designed for them to leave when their visit is over. Their visit should not function as the first step in the Green Card process,” he said.
Source: VidNews » Feed
