Want to keep up with newcomer policy updates in the U.S.? Every month, Global Cleveland publishes our newcomer policy update so that you can stay informed about the latest news.

This month’s Newcomer Update at a glance:

• Immigrant Population in US Drops for First Time in Decades

• Administration to Review all Existing Visas

• Refugee Cap Could be 40,000 Next Year

• A study by the Pew Research Center found that for the first time in many decades more immigrants left the United States that entered it.
• Between January and June of this year, the study found, the US’ foreign born population decreased by nearly one and a half million people, the first decline in fifty years
• Trump administration supporters have lauded the change, saying it will lead to higher wages and more opportunity for native born residents, but many economists have been concerned it could lead to serious long term economic problems.
• https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/21/us/immigration-decline-united-states-trump.html

• The Trump administration announced it will review the visas of around 55 million people to find to any violations that count warrant deportations
• In a statement, the State Department said the process was one of “continuous vetting”
• The 55 million people who hold visas are not necessarily immigrants in or residents of the United States, a large number of them hold tourism or business visas that allow for occasional visits to the country
• https://apnews.com/article/trump-visas-deportations-068ad6cd5724e7248577f17592327ca4

• President Trump said the US will continue to allow more than half a million Chinese international students to continue studying at US colleges and universities
• Earlier this year the State Department announced plans to “aggressively revoke” visas for Chinese students, including those with ties to the country’s ruling Communist Party and those in certain critical fields.
• In a comment at the White House, the President said it was “very important” that students from China be allowed in the US, and said that the US would allow up to 600,000 students from China to study here annually, which would be a substantial increase from the current figure and would exceed the pre-COVID pandemic level.
• https://nypost.com/2025/08/26/us-news/trump-to-allow-600000-chinese-students-entry-to-us-for-college-as-trade-talks-with-china-press-on/

• US Citizenship and Immigration Services issued new guidance about family based immigrant petitions
• The policy clarifies that the approval of a family-based petition does not on its own confer legal immigration status, and if the recipient is in violation of other aspects of immigration law they may still be issued a Notice to Appear
• The document details the criteria and procedures involved in the family-based petitions, and the circumstances under which they may be rereouted to another agency of government
• https://www.newsweek.com/immigration-officials-green-card-uscis-2108483

• New US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) policies may affect the pathway to legal permanent residence status for the children of green card holders.
• The policy states that if someone turns 21 before being approved for green card status, they can no longer be considered a child for immigration purposes, complicating their path to a green card.
• The previous administration implemented a new policy in 2023 to allow applicants to ‘lock in’ their age, but the new USCIS guidance has rolled back these changes.
• https://americanbazaaronline.com/2025/08/25/uscis-policy-change-alters-green-card-path-for-children-of-h-1b-visa-holders-466696/

• Reuters reported that the Trump administration was considering a refugee cap of 40,000 refugees per year, a considerable decrease from the 100,000 in 2024 but higher than the ceiling set by Trump during his first term.
• It is believed around 30,000 of the 40,000 would be open to Afrikaners, and possibly other South Africans, with Afghan evacuees getting many of the remainder.
• Administration officials said that no final decision had been made and that the decision would be made by October
• https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/trump-administration-weighing-refugee-cap-40000-with-focus-white-south-africans-2025-08-15/ 

• The federal government’s drive to hire additional ICE agents reached the major milestone of100,000 applications for work at the agency
• The agency, which saw a major increase in funding in recent legislation, has removed age limitations on applications for work and have offered incentives, including a signing bonus of up to $50,000
• President Trump launched the recruiting drive with the goal of hiring an additional 10,000 officers.
• https://www.executivegov.com/articles/dhs-ice-law-enforcement-recruitment-kristi-noem

• Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadorian man who’s case became a major story earlier this year, was taked into custody by ICE who intended to deport him to Uganda
• US District Judge Paula Xinis issued an order blocking the deportation until an evidentiary hearing
• Abrego Garcia was sent to El Salvador, where he was imprisoned, earlier this year in a move that the US government later admitted was a mistake.
• https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/kilmar-abrego-garcia-ice-check-in-rcna226866

• New Guidance from the Ohio Attorney General indicates that counties in the state are allowed to house detainees as long as required by federal low, providing they have a contract with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
• This changes an earlier directive given by the former Attorney General Marc Dann, who said in 2007 sheriffs could only jail people based on criminal, not civil, immigration charges
• The opinion, which is not legally binding, also asserted that only county commissioners – and not sheriffs – have the power to sign contracts with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. County commissioners are present in 86 of Ohio’s 88 counties with Cuyahoga and Summit being the exceptions.
• https://www.cleveland.com/metro/2025/08/ohio-ag-yost-counties-can-jail-immigration-detainees-indefinitely-with-ice-contracts.html