US Reverses Green Card Application Rule Change
The Trump administration has reversed its policy requiring non-citizens to return to their home country to apply for a green card. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) clarified on Friday that the announcement made the previous week was not a blanket requirement but would be applied on a case-by-case basis. The initial policy, announced on May 22 by spokesman Zach Kahler, stated that aliens in the US temporarily seeking permanent residency must apply from their home country except in extraordinary circumstances. This reversal comes after the announcement sparked major concern among millions of immigrants. The US issues over 1 million green cards annually, with more than half of applicants already in the country, according to the American Immigration Council. President Donald Trump campaigned on expelling undocumented migrants and has closed several legal pathways to residency since taking office.
Key facts
- DHS reversed the policy announced last week.
- The policy is now implemented on a case-by-case basis.
- Zach Kahler announced the initial policy on May 22.
- The US grants more than 1 million green cards each year.
- More than half of applicants were already in the US.
- The American Immigration Council provided the statistics.
- President Trump campaigned on expelling undocumented migrants.
- The administration has closed several legal pathways to residency.
Entities
Institutions
- Department of Homeland Security
- The New York Times
- American Immigration Council
Locations
- United States