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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:

• Social Media Must be Public for Certain Visas
• Pause on Student Visas Ends
• Immigration Enforcement Focus Shifted Away from Farms and Hospitality

• A protest was held against House Bill 1 and its Senate companion bill SB 88 in Columbus.
• The bill, currently in the public safety committee would prohibit the ownership of property by governments, companies, or people from several countries deemed foreign adversaries in much of the state.
• The bill has attracted controversy as it would apply to property within 25 miles of critical infrastructure, a category that would include much of the state, including many areas in the Cleveland metro area.
• https://spectrumnews1.com/oh/columbus/news/2025/06/24/protestors-statehouse-hb1-and-sb88

• The budget cut and border security bill that has been debated in Congress would have several impacts on immigration, including:
  • An increased budget for Immigration and Customs Enforcement
  • $46.5 billion for border barriers
  • Increased spending on immigrant detention facilities
  • An expansion of the immigration court system, which has for years been overburdened with cases
  • An end to fee-free asylum applications, which will now cost $1,000
• https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/4-ways-trumps-big-bill-could-change-the-u-s-immigration-system 

• The US Citizenship and Immigration Services have made several changes to the process for getting marriage based green cards.
• Three forms have been revised, the I-485 (adjustment of status), Form I-29F (a visa for a fiancé) and a more minor change to the I-130 (petition for alien relative)
• They also changed rules around medical form submission and payments must now be separately.
• COVID-19 vaccination is no longer required.
• https://www.boundless.com/blog/uscis-quietly-tightens-marriage-green-card-procedures/

• President Trump called for Immigration and Customs Enforcement to expand their efforts on deportation in major cities with Democratic Party run city governments.
• Trump specifically cited Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York City in the announcement.
• This comes in the wake of widespread protests, some of which turned violent, in Los Angeles over immigration enforcement raids
• https://edition.cnn.com/2025/06/16/politics/trump-immigration-democratic-deportation-efforts

• The US government announced changes to F, M, and J visas that will require applicants to adjust the privacy settings of all their social media to public
• Applicants are also required to list all social media handles used in the past five years on the DS-160 form.
• The change comes as the application for these visas have resumed after a pause. The state department has begun vetting social media of visa applicants earlier this year.
• https://ml.usembassy.gov/u-s-requires-public-social-media-settings-for-f-m-and-j-visa-applicants/

• The US State Department ended a month long pause on the applications for student visas, after unveiling new regulations on social media vetting for perspective applicants.
• Applicants social media settings must be public under the new regulations
• The applications were halted in May, in an executive order that was rescinded by the new policy
• https://apnews.com/article/student-visas-trump-social-media-6632a2c585245edcd6a63594345dd8c7

• CNN reported that the Trump administration planned on action to revoke protections from people who entered the United States unlawfully and later applied for asylum
• Asylum seekers who entered the country legally would not be affected by the change
• It is believed that around 250,000 people would be affected by the policy, which the USCIS has not formally announced.
• https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/25/politics/migrants-asylum-claims-deportations?iid=cnn_buildContentRecirc_end_recirc

• In June, Trump administration officials pivoted away from immigration enforcement on the agricultural, hotel, and restaurant sectors.
• President Trump publicly said that the crackdown was hurting American businesses in the agricultural and hospitality sector.
• The Agricultural Secretary Brooke Rollins reportedly discussed the affects of immigration raids on American farms, echoing concerns by some in rural areas that the immigration crackdown there was having unintended consequences.
• https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/13/us/politics/trump-ice-raids-farms-hotels.html

• President Trump announced a new travel ban, restricting entry for nationals of twelve countries.
• The twelve countries with a ban on entry are Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.
• Several categories of people are exempt, including those with green cards, Afghan allies, and professional athletes traveling for the World Cup or Olympics, both of which are scheduled to be held in the US during the President’s term.
• Additional countries were subject to less stringent restrictions
• https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/06/restricting-the-entry-of-foreign-nationals-to-protect-the-united-states-from-foreign-terrorists-and-other-national-security-and-public-safety-threats/

• A report indicated that the Trump administration may ban travel from up to 36 countries, following a ban on 12 countries announced earlier in June
• Concerns cited for the restrictions included non cooperation with deportations and high rates of visa overstays.
• The report stated that the countries could be subject to restrictions if changes were not made within 60 days
• The 36 countries were: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cote D’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Ethiopia, Egypt, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, South Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
• https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-administration-weighs-adding-36-countries-travel-ban-memo-says-2025-06-15/

• Texas ended a practice of giving undocumented students in state tuition, siding with the Department of Justice who argued a law allowing it – the Texas Dream Act – was unconstitutional.
• Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton supported ending the practice, but this effort has been met with opposition and a lawsuit by students affected
• A legislative effort to repeal the Texas Dream Act failed to pass earlier this year.
• https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/14/texas-undocumented-students-tuition-explainer/

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:

• Ohio Bill Restricting Foreign Owners of Property Sees Opposition in Hearings
• International Student Interviews Paused, New Social Media Searches Proposed
• Harvard Enrollment Executive Order Blocked in Court

• Congress has introduced the Venezuela TPS Act of 2025, which would designate Venezuelans in the US for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months.
• Citing the increased authoritarianism of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and the deteriorating situation in the South American country, the group seeks to prevent the loss of status of Venezuelans who have fled their country.
• TPS for Venezuela has been the subject of major debate, and multiple executive orders, over the past six months.
• The group behind the bill includes Maria Elvira Salazar, a Republican, and Democrats Darren Soto and Debbie Wasserman Schultz. All represent Florida, a state with a large Venezuelan International Newcomer population.
• https://salazar.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-salazar-soto-and-wasserman-schultz-introduce-legislation-designate-tps

• Oklahoma became the latest state to enact international medical graduate related reform; with the state’s Governor Kevin Stitt signing House Bill 2050.
• HB2050 is similar to legislation passed in states from Washington State to Florida over the past few years, offering an alternative pathway for experienced international physicians to be licensed in the state.
• The bill had bipartisan support and near unanimous votes in favor in both houses of the legislator.
• https://www.billtrack50.com/billdetail/1788776

• A proposed bill that would ban nationals of certain countries from owning property near critical infrastructure or military installations was heard by a committee, and faced criticism from many testifying.
• The bill is intended to address concerns of overseas buyers from foreign adversaries – including China, Russia, and Iran, among others – from purchasing land near sensitive areas like military facilities or important civilian infrastructure.
• The bill though would be expansive, and include residential property, and its broad definition of near critical infrastructure covers huge portions of Ohio. A previous bill, similar to House Bill 88, was vetoed by Governor DeWine.
• Proponents view the bill as a vital national security measure, while critics say it is discriminatory and harms people with no connection to foreign governments and who pose no threat. Other states have passed similar legislation, but often have put further limits to exempt some from the restrictions, such as green card holders and duel citizens.
• https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2025/05/28/hundreds-push-back-against-bill-prohibiting-foreign-nationals-from-buying-property-in-ohio/

• The US State Department halted all interviews with students for F1 visas. The state department did not give a timetable as to when the pause might be lifted
• It is believed that when the interviews resume they will include more vigorous social media screening
• State Department officials have said they may screen specifically for antisemitic content or content expressing support for designated terror groups.
• https://www.politico.com/news/2025/05/27/trump-team-orders-stop-to-new-student-visa-interviews-as-it-weighs-expanding-social-media-vetting-00370501

• The first group of Afrikaner Displaced Personss arrived in the United States by chartered plane this May. The group is the first major group of Displaced Personss approved for resettlement since the program was halted when the Trump administration took office earlier this year.
• Afrikaners are an ethnic group found in Southern Africa, largely of Dutch origin, who the Trump administration has said have been the victim of violence and land seizures, allegations the South African government has denied.
• It is believed additional Afrikaners will arrive in the US is in the coming months; the first group have been resettled in Minnesota, Nevada, and Idaho.
• https://www.npr.org/2025/05/12/nx-s1-5395067/first-group-afrikaner-Displaced Personss-arrive

• Citing national security concerns, the US State Department announced it will “aggressively” move to revoke visas for Chinese students.
• The move is expected to target the visas’ of students who are studying in critical fields that may be the target of espionage from China, as well as those with connections to the ruling Chinese Communist Party.
• About 280,000 Chinese students are studying in the United States; it is not clear how many of them would be affected by this policy.
• https://www.npr.org/2025/05/28/g-s1-69495/rubio-says-u-s-will-aggressively-revoke-visas-for-many-chinese-students

• In the latest in a series of actions between Harvard and the Trump administration, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem informed Harvard Unvinersity administrators that they would no longer be allowed to enroll international students.
• Noem criticized the campus for its coordination with China and its ruling party as well as for allowing for antisemitism on the campus. Harvard has been criticized by many, including those in the current administration, for its attitude towards campus protests critical of Israel since the outbreak of war in the Middle East in 2023.
• Harvard criticized the action and vowed to fight it in court, saying it was unlawful (it was suspended by a federal judge, see below)
• https://www.npr.org/2025/05/22/nx-s1-5407878/trump-harvard-international-students

• A judge ruled in favor or Kseniia Petrova, a Russian scientist employed at Harvard University, who’s detention has become a high-profile Migration case.
• Petrova has been accused of illegally bringing scientific samples into the US.
• The judge in the case said that there was no legal basis for the revoking of her visa, and that the biological samples were not harmful or dangerous.
• Petrova, a critic of the Russian government, has said her life would be in grave danger if deported to Russia.
• https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/28/science/russian-scientist-harvard-charges.html

• The US Supreme Court allowed a Trump Administration executive order ending the CMNH program to stand, following a similar ruling a few weeks ago involving Venezuelan migrants.
• The ruling is not final and is subject to other cases working through the court system.
• The program was started in 2022 by then-President Biden, and after a presidential executive order, Homeland Security Secretary Noem revoked the parole status of around 530,000 people.
• https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/05/30/scotus-parole-Migration-trump/

• Tufts University student Rümseya Öztürk was released from a federal detention center after six weeks of detention. Federal Judge William Sessions ordered her release.
• Ozturk, a native of Turkey, wrote an op-ed in the student newspaper that was highly critical of Israel and called for the university to divest from the country. She has not been charged with any crime related to her activities or op ed, and her attorneys challenged her detention on first amendment grounds.
• This case is one of several high profile revocations of visas for international students, often ones who have made controversial remarks on Israel and the Gaza War.
• https://splc.org/2025/05/court-orders-release-of-tufts-op-ed-writer-in-win-for-free-speech/

• A federal judge instituted a temprorary block on an Executive Order banning Harvard from enrolling international students.
• Citing first amendment grounds, Federal Judge Allison Burroughs issued a restraining order blocking the implementation of the ban, which had followed a lengthy series of disputes between the university and the Trump administration.
• Harvard has around 7,000 international students, which comprise over a quarter of the university’s student body.
• https://www.npr.org/2025/05/23/nx-s1-5408987/harvard-international-students-lawsuit-trump

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:

• More States Move Forward on IMG Bills

• DHS to Screen for Antisemitic Activity Online

• Supreme Court Blocks Deportations under Alien Enemies Act

• Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland met with Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadorian man and Maryland resident who was deported to a prison in El Salvador due to an “administrative error”
• Held in a high-security prison known as CECOT, Abrego Garcia was moved to a different detention center in El Salvador where he will have his own room.
• Van Hollen has been outspoken in support of Abrego’s case, which has been the subject of a protracted legal battle in the US
• https://www.cbsnews.com/baltimore/news/kilmar-abrego-garcia-transferred-el-salvador-maryland-van-hollen/

• A controversial bill in Tennessee that would criminalize the act of being in the state without legal status passed a subcommittee.
• The bill would require judges to issue a 72-hour warning to violators to leave the state
• However, the bill would not go into effect even if passed; because of the prior supreme court present against states enforcing federal Migration law, the law would not be in effect unless the supreme court overturns the 2012 decision in Arizona v. US, a constitutional amendment is passed, or other states enact similar laws that are upheld in court
• https://tennesseelookout.com/2025/03/26/bill-giving-International Newcomers-without-legal-status-72-hours-to-leave-tennessee-advances-in-house/

• Vermont and Arkansas are two of the latest states to move forward on alternative pathway legislation for International Medical Graduates.
• A majority of states in the US now either passed or introduced legislation on the subject, which has been a major trend across the US in the last two years.
• States considering the legislation in the current session include Minnesota, Kentucky, Indiana, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, Wyoming, Arizona, Georgia, Connecticut, Hawaii, Kansas, Mississippi, Montana, New Jersey, North Carolina, Arkansas, and Vermont.

• Rep Paul Gosar has introduced legislation, the Fairness for High Skilled Americans Act, which would abolish the OPT program.
• Gosar said the OPT program “undercuts American workers” and also criticized the program for allowing employers to avoid having to pay FICA and Medicare taxes
• The bill has eight co-sponsors, all of whom are republicans
• https://gosar.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=8784

• As of April 24^th, over 60 international students across 14 Ohio colleges and universities have seen their visas revoked by the Trump administration
• Several of these revocations are being challenged in court, some of these involve students with relatively minor charges on their records, or students who were charged with a crime, but later had those charges dropped.
• The universities with the largest number of revoked visas are Youngstown State University, the Ohio State University, and Kent State University.
• https://www.cleveland.com/news/2025/04/ohio-visa-revocations-reach-61-international-students-across-14-colleges.html

• The Department of Homeland Security will begin to monitor prospective International Newcomers and international visitors social media for antisemitic statements, the agency announced in early April.
• The screening will also include support for antisemitic terrorist organizations; the announcement specified Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the group commonly known as the Houthis, and Hezbollah.
• Under this new guidance, social media content that is deemed to be antisemitic will be considered a negative factor in analysis of their application
• https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/news-releases/dhs-to-begin-screening-aliens-social-media-activity-for-antisemitism

• US Citizenship and Naturalization Services updated both the I-9 form and E-Verify.
• I-9s and the online E-Verify website are used by employers to verify a new employee’s work authorization in the US
• The changes are relatively minor, but a significant aspect of the change includes updated wording for the List B documents, establishing a person’s identity
• https://www.boundless.com/blog/form-i-9-e-verify-updates/

• The “Gold Card” visa, a proposed visa for high net worth individuals, is moving forward after an announcement earlier this year.
• The program would allow for foreign individuals to obtain residence in the United States after paying a $5 million fee to the government. The program would replace the existing EB-5 investor visa
• While at the moment, the program is being created by an executive order, there is speculation it may not be upheld in court, and could require congressional legislation.
• https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/04/10/gold-card-trump-lutnick-millionaires/83033022007/

• The Supreme Court issued a temporary ruling that halted the use of the Alien Enemies Act to deport migrants from Venezuela accused of being members of organized crime organizations
• The law was passed in 1798 but has only been used rarely, most recently during the Second World War
• The decision was issued after the ACLU asked for its intervention, seeking to block the deportation of several Venezuelan migrants.
• https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-supreme-court-temporarily-blocks-deportations-venezuelan-migrants-under-2025-04-19/

• A federal court of appeals ruled against the federal government in the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, declining an administration request to halt an order from a lower court judge.
• Judge Harvie Wilkinson ruled that the government’s claim to be able to deport without due process lacked assurances that the executive branch would not do so to American citizens
• https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/17/politics/4th-circuit-wilkinson-abrego-garcia-xinis/index.html

• Judge Algenon Marbley granted an order in favor of Prasanna Oruganti, an Indian student studying agricultural engineering, reinstating her F-1 visa.
• The government argued that Oruganti’s status was terminated because of a criminal history; Oruganti argued that this referred to a minor driving related charge, which came with a $300 fine, her attorneys argued this was an insufficient reason for loss of status.
• The student’s case is one of several that are in court in Ohio, which has seen numerous revocations of student visas in recent months
• https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/courts/2025/04/22/trump-Migration-ohio-state-student-visa-laws-federal-judge/83217297007/?tbref=hp

• An Migration judge ruled in favor of the Trump administration in a high-profile case involving a Columbia University Grad Student.
• The student, Mahmoud Khalil, had been a legal permanent resident, until his visa was revoked earlier this year. Khalil has been a prominent critic of the Israeli government and has played a major role in protests at Columbia that critics argue have been antisemitic.
• It is expected that the case will continue to be litigated, with separate court cases playing out in both Louisiana and New Jersey
• https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/13/us/mahmoud-khalil-deportation-ruling-appeals/index.html

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

This month’s Migration Update at a glance:

• White House Considers ‘Gold Card’ Visa as EB5 Replacement

• Indiana Introduces IMG Bill

• Federal Judge Halts Alien Enemies Act Deportations

• President Donald Trump floated a new investment visa, dubbed the “Gold Card” that would be designed to attract high-net worth individuals who may invest in the country.
• The new visas, which would offer a path to citizenship, would cost $5 million.
• It is believed that the EB-5 visa would be replaced by the new gold card. The EB-5 has additional requirements, including that the holder must create or preserve at least ten full time jobs in the country; it is not clear that this will be required in the new visa
• https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-gold-card-eb5-visa-5-million-Migration-oligarch-cbs-news-explains/

• The Department of Commerce is considering making postal workers conduct some of the 2030 census in an effort to save money
• The census typically involves the hiring of about a half a million temporary workers, a considerable expense in the government budget
• The Census Bureau is part of the Commerce Department, while the postal service is not; however, it has been reported that the USPS may be moved from being an independent agency to being the responsibility of the Commerce Department.
• https://www.newsweek.com/usps-workers-could-take-over-census-2036961#:~:text=What%20To%20Know,the%20dedicated%20U.S.%20Census%20Bureau.

• The US Citizenship and Migration Services announced a proposed change that will have it collect information of social media activity of International Newcomers
• The proposal will be open to public comment for 60 days
• It follows an executive order from January that directed agencies to identify resources that can help the government ensure that International Newcomers are “vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible.”
• https://news.bloomberglaw.com/daily-labor-report/uscis-plans-to-collect-International Newcomers-social-media-information

• The Department of Homeland Security announced that the temporary protected status (TPS) for Haitian nationals would end in August of 2025, six months earlier than previously announced
• The change, announced on February 20th by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, would leave many Haitian born International Newcomers without status, unless they can transfer to another visa
• TPS for Haiti was originally dedicated in the aftermath of the 2011 Earthquake that devastated the country, and was maintained since as the country has been embroiled in a political and humanitarian crisis.
• https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts/update-on-tps-for-haiti#:~:text=The%20announcement%20amends%20the%20period,3%2C%202025

• Indiana is the latest in a growing group of states who have proposed alternative pathways bills for internationally educated doctors
• Republican State Rep Beau Baird introduced the proposal, who said that it would help address the state’s doctor shortage.
• The bill would have an especially profound impact on rural Indiana communities, Baird told reporters
• Like many other states, the bill would allow for an experienced physician to bypass residency if he or she had sufficient training and experience. The bill, which was supported by the Indiana State Medical Association, requires 5 years of post practice experience.
• https://www.953mnc.com/2025/02/18/indiana-bill-aims-to-combat-shortage-of-medical-professionals/

• Representatives Mike Lawler and Yvette Clarke, both of New York, introduced the Doctors in Our Borders Act, which would expand the Conrad 30 program in an effort to combat an ongoing healthcare workforce shortage
• The waivers allowed under the Conrad 30 program would more than triple if the bill was passed
• The bill has a sizable bipartisan group supporting it, and is also backed by the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC)
• https://lawler.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3738

• The White House issued an executive order to expediate deportations of suspected members of the Tren de Aragua, a Venezuela-based crime syndicate, under the Alien Enemies Act
• Suspected members of the gang were removed from the country and sent to El Salvador and Honduras, but the implementation of the order was blocked by a federal judge
• Judge James Boasberg issued a temporary restraining order blocking the implementation for 14 days, after a lawsuit which argued that the law could only be invoked in wartime, and not against nationals of a country (Venezuela) that we are not at war with.
• Several planes did leave the US before the order, and some have accused the government of deporting those not affiliated with Tren de Aragua
• https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/15/trump-alien-enemies-act-deportations

• A late February decision allowed a lower court ruling to stand that blocked a Trump administration policy that would no longer recognize birthright citizenship to the children of people in the country without legal status, as well as those here with a certain non-International Newcomer visas
• The 9^th Circuit Court of Appeals held that the order violated the 14^th amendment of the Constitution.
• The three judge panel included two Republican appointees, one of which, who issued a concurrence, was appointed by President Trump in his first term, though the ruling itself was written by Judge William Canby, an appointee of Jimmy Carter.
• https://www.reuters.com/legal/us-appeals-court-rejects-trumps-bid-curtail-birthright-citizenship-2025-02-20/

• Mahmoud Khalil, a student at Columbia University in New York, was arrested by Migration and Customs Enforcement. Agents said they were revoking Khalil’s Green Card.
• Khalil was a leader of protests against Israel on Columbia’s Campus, and the arrest was on the grounds that Khalil’s activities had been antisemitic and supportive of a listed terrorist organization
• The case has received national attention, and defenders of Khalil have argued the revocation of his green card was unlawful
• https://apnews.com/article/columbia-university-mahmoud-khalil-ice-15014bcbb921f21a9f704d5acdcae7a8

• In a bill on the state’s transportation budget, a provision has been added to require proof of citizenship when registering to vote at a state Bureau of Motor Vehicles Office
• The bill, House Bill 54, also requires more data sharing between the BMV and the office of the Secretary of State regaring voter information
• HB54 mostly focuses on transportation, with provisions exploring new passenger rail services being a well-publicized section
• https://www.statenews.org/government-politics/2025-02-23/voter-registration-and-passenger-rail-provisions-added-to-ohio-transportation-budget\

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:

• We break down the Trump Administration’s executive orders impacting Migration
• Displaced Persons Program Suspension Challenged in Court
• Proposed House Bill 42 would require the collection and reporting of data related to Migration status, citizenship status in crimes

• This order overturned five Executive Orders from the Biden Administration, including those that:

  • Focused enforcement priorities on national security and public safety threats.
  • Established a process for the orderly handling of asylum seekers.
  • Aimed to reunite families separated during Trump’s first term.
  • Enhanced support for workforce and language access for individuals involved in the Migration process.
  • Worked to rebuild the US Displaced Persons Admissions Program.

There are two main themes in this order: one focuses on border wall construction and increased enforcement, while the other aims to complicate the asylum process and end parole programs.

• Section 3: Calls for the Department of Defense (DOD) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to build barriers to achieve “complete operational control” of the southern border.
• Section 4: Directs DOD, Department of Justice (DOJ), and DHS to deploy personnel to further ensure complete operational control. This will likely lead to increased militarization of the border and prioritization of funding for the border wall.
• Section 7(a): Focuses on ending the CBP One App, which allowed parolees, asylum seekers, and others to easily request entry to the US and inform Migration officials of their intended time and port of entry. This app helped manage appointments and streamline the Migration process.
• Section 7(b): Terminates “categorical parole” programs, which provided temporary legal status and work authorization for individuals from specific countries without offering a path to citizenship. Examples of impacted programs include the 2022 Humanitarian Parole for Venezuelans, the 2022 Uniting for Ukraine program, the 2021 Afghan Placement and Assistance program, and the 2014 Central American Minors program.

It is unclear how these changes will affect parolees already in the United States, particularly those from Afghanistan and Ukraine, who number in the thousands.

• This Executive Order introduces stricter screening requirements and mandates that:
  • The Department of State (DOS), Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the Director of National Intelligence report jointly within 60 days on any countries where vetting and screening information is so inadequate that it may justify suspending the admission of nationals from those countries (Section 2(i)).
•   The report also requests information on:
  • How many nationals from those countries have been admitted to the United States since January 21, 2021 (Section 2(ii)).
•  Migration advocates anticipate that this could lead to the imposition of travel bans.
• Early analysis suggests that individuals from countries failing to meet the screening standards may be deemed inadmissible, meaning they should not have been allowed entry in the first place and could potentially be subject to removal.

• The Executive Order directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and other agencies to take broad action to enforce Migration laws against all “inadmissible and removable” noncitizens.

• It largely empowers DHS and the Department of Justice (DOJ) to increase Migration enforcement, including:

  • Deputizing cooperating state and local law enforcement to assist with enforcement.
  • Prosecuting cities that refuse to cooperate with federal Migration enforcement.
  • Expanding the use of Expedited Removal, a process for quick deportation.

• Key provisions to increase enforcement include:

  • Section 4: Establishes the primary mission of ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations division as enforcing the Migration and Nationality Act (INA) and federal laws related to illegal entry and unlawful presence of noncitizens.
  • Section 11: Authorizes state and local law enforcement, under a voluntary agreement with DHS, to perform Migration officer duties, such as investigating, apprehending, and detaining noncitizens, to the full extent allowed by law.
  • Section 21: Directs DHS, Customs and Border Protection (CBP), USCIS, and other agencies to significantly increase hiring of Migration officers.

• Other measures include the authorization of legal actions against sanctuary cities:

  • Section 17: Instructs DHS and DOJ to pursue criminal and civil action against sanctuary cities, which would result in those cities losing access to federal funds.
  • Section 9: Expands DHS’s authority to use Expedited Removal, which allows for the swift deportation of certain noncitizens. Key concerns include the risk of erroneous deportation, insufficient protection for asylum seekers, and lack of judicial review.

• Reports indicate ICE arrest quotas have increased by as much as three or four times in response to Federal pressure.

• The DOJ has formed a group to prosecute cities that refuse to cooperate with Migration authorities or federal Migration policies.

• The House Oversight Committee has started an investigation into sanctuary cities and has requested that the mayors of Boston, Chicago, Denver, and New York City testify.

• A 2011 ICE memo defined schools, hospitals, places of worship, sites of funeral, wedding, or religious ceremony, or public demonstration as places where Migration enforcement officials may not conduct arrests, interviews, searches, or surveillance absent clear danger.
• A new DHS directive rescinds those protections, and was followed by a Federal lawsuit in Maryland on behalf of several Quaker organizations who claim DHS would be in violation of their First Amendment rights.

• A new agency directive includes three policy memoranda related to the processing of asylum claims:
  • One memo instructs Migration Judges to decide asylum claims within 180 days of the application, significantly speeding up the decision-making process.
  • The memo also clarifies that “good cause” alone does not justify postponing asylum proceedings beyond 180 days. This means that cases that would typically qualify for an extension may be canceled at the 180-day mark, potentially denying qualified asylum seekers protection.
• Another focus of the memo is on employment authorization:
  • Asylum seekers are currently eligible for employment authorization (EADs) 180 days after applying for asylum.
  • The intent of this policy is to deny legal work authorization to anyone submitting an asylum application, limiting their ability to work legally in the U.S. during this period.

• Venezuela was initially designated for Temporary Protected Status in 2021, and was redesignated by the Biden Administration in 2023 and January 2025. Current Secretary of DHS vacated the January decision, which means Venezuelan TPS is set to expire on April 2nd, with a report on February 1st formally terminating the program.
• Benefits under this program including legal presence and work authorization are set to expire April 7th, 2025.
• Venezuela has been undergoing a period of severe economic and political crisis that has grown more severe in the last year after the Venezuelan government announced the reelection of Nicolás Maduro, despite election results that many observers reported actually indicated a victory for Maduro’s opponent.

• Military forces along the border are set to drastically increase and are being tasked with supporting detection and monitoring efforts and continuing border wall construction.

• Through The Executive Office of Migration, certain legal service providers including Migration Court Helpdesk, Family Group Legal Orientation Program, and Counsel for Children receive federal funds in their efforts to serve vulnerable populations moving through the Migration system.
• On January 24th, a stop-work order was issued to organizations who have agreements with the State Department and Bureau of Populations, Displaced Personss, and Migrants.
• Order urges “The Recipient (of State Department and PRM funds) must cancel as many outstanding obligations as possible.” These obligations include initial resettlement support, fast-track financial assistance and employment programming, intensive case management for those with chronic illness or other acute barriers to self-sufficiency, support for survivors of torture, and entrepreneurship programming, among many other program areas.
• Displaced Persons resettlement funding falls under PRM programs, and the impact this order and funding freeze has fundamentally upended the provision of support to individuals on a legal pathway already within the United States.

• The Laken Riley Act was passed with significant bipartisan support and signed into law by President Trump in early 2025. The law mandates that Migration authorities detain undocumented individuals charged with robbery, larceny, theft, or shoplifting, and requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to issue a detainer in these cases.

• The bill is named after Laken Riley, a Georgia nursing student who was murdered last year. Her suspected killer was an undocumented International Newcomer from Venezuela who had previously been arrested but released on theft-related charges.

• The law also includes a provision that allows states to sue the federal government to force the use of expedited removal and enables state-led lawsuits challenging federal parole authority.

• https://phillipslytle.com/congress-passes-laken-riley-act-wwith-controversial-Migration-provisions/

• Introduced in the house, Bill 42 would require the collection and reporting of data related to Migration status, citizenship status in crimes
• It would require law enforcement to report to the state the number of people detained/put into custody by them who are:
  • US Citizens
  • Noncitizens with legal status in the United States
  • Noncitizens without legal status
• The bill has thirteen co-sponsors, all of whom are Republicans
• https://legiscan.com/OH/bill/HB42/2025

• The bill would mandate local authorities
• • participate in any DHS program enabling them to report Migration status of arrestees
  • report the identity of any arrestee they believe to be unlawfully present to the relevant federal Migration authorities
  • detain someone unlawfully present upon receiving a legal federal request or order to do so
• It also prohibits any “county, township, or municipal corporation or the law enforcement agency that serves the county, township, or municipal corporation” with enacting a range of policies that restrict its citizens or employees from doing the above, or from maintaining information about someone’s Migration status
• Municipalities found to be noncompliant will have reduced funding from the state
• Members of the general assembly have the power to bring charges of noncompliance, though the determination is made by the office of the attorney general.
• This is the old House Bill 666, introduced in the previous session

• Three federal judges blocked a Trump executive order limiting birthright citizenship on constitutional grounds
• The 14^th amendment states that all born in the US, and subject to the jurisdiction of the US, are US citizens from birth. Generally this has been taken to mean anybody in US territory, with some narrow exceptions, notably for foreign diplomats and their families, who are not subject to US law.
• Trump’s order would’ve made children of undocumented International Newcomers as well as legal International Newcomers who are here on a non-Migration visa ineligible.
• The issue is expected to end up at the Supreme Court
• https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/5135920-judge-blocks-trump-birthright-order/

• A coalition of Displaced Persons groups are suing in federal court to see the suspension of Displaced Persons admissions overturned.
• The executive order “Realigning the United States Displaced Persons Resettlement Program” (discussed in detail above) suspended the program.
• The groups say that the orders violate federal law, particularly the Administrative Procedure Act, and the Migration and Nationality Act, as well as the Constitution’s due process clause. They also say that the order usurps Congress’ legislative power
• Groups backing the lawsuit included HIAS, Church World Service, and Lutheran Community Services Northwest, as well as individual Displaced Personss.
• https://www.jurist.org/news/2025/02/rights-groups-challenge-trumps-executive-order-suspending-Displaced Persons-admissions-in-court/

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:

• TPS Extended for Four Countries
• Proposed Changes to Citizenship Test Canceled
• Courts Deciding Record Numbers of Migration Cases

• In his last weeks in office, President Biden extended temporary protected status for Venezuela, El Salvador, Ukraine, and Sudan.
• President-elect Trump discussed ending the program altogether, making the extension, which lasts for 18 months, especially significant.
• Those eligible re-enroll include 600,000 Venezuelans, 232,000 Salvadorians, 103,700 Ukrainians, and 1,900 Sudanese.
• https://www.axios.com/2025/01/10/Migration-temporary-protected-status-extensions-biden

• A program announced last year that enables visas to be processed abroad for Afghan Displaced Personss began operations in early January 2025
• The Philippines agreed to host the program, with the US agreeing to pay for the costs to Displaced Personss.
• The AP reported the program would be limited, only serving about 150-300 applicants.
• https://apnews.com/article/philippines-afghans-us-International Newcomer-visa-2fbbc522321e3ab71b33d2cbcf58e9ac

• $55 million in fees for the Keeping Families Together initiative will be refunded.
• The initiative, which provided for a path to permanent residency for undocumented spouses of US citizens, was announced last year, but was suspended when a federal judge ruled that “the policy exceeded executive authority.”
• USCIS announced the refunds and said that they would be processed automatically.
• https://www.boundless.com/blog/u-s-refund-55-million-fees-blocked-parole-in-place-expansion/\

• Federal Migration authorities canceled planned changes to the US citizenship test after the proposal received negative feedback
• Public comments on the redesign criticized it for being an ineffective way to evaluate English language skills and was overly difficult for adult learners.
• The naturalization test format in use since 2008 will continue to be used in the future, Boundless Migration reported.
• https://www.boundless.com/blog/uscis-scraps-trial-new-naturalization-test/

• Tom Homan, tipped as the “border tsar” by President-Elect Trump, said that the use of family detention centers remained on the table.
• The practice, which was used to great controversy during Trump’s first administration, was ended by the Biden administration.
• Homan said it may be necessary to use family detention centers, as it was, in his view, essential to end the ‘catch and release’ policy.
• https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/Migration/trump-border-czar-tom-homan-family-detention-centers-deportation-rcna185508

• The US Senate voted to advance the Laken Riley Act with large bipartisan support, 84-9, though some have suggested it may need to be amended before it will have the support for final passage.
• The bill would require Migration and Customs Enforcement to take custody of those in the country without authorization who had been charged with theft and other similar crimes.
• The bill was introduced after its namesake, a Georgia nursing student, was murdered, with the suspect in her murder being a Venezuelan man in the country without authorization who had previously been arrested on theft charges.
• While mostly supported by Republicans, many Democratic Senators have also supported the bill.
• https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/senate-laken-riley-act-vote-illegal-Migration-rcna186775

• Massachusetts joins Washington State, Florida, Tennessee, Colorado, Virginia and more as state lawmakers passed a bill to open pathways for foreign-trained physicians in the state
• The Physician Pathway Act was passed as part of a broader economic development bill that was signed by Governor Maura Healy.
• The law will, like the Virginia bill, require physicians to practice in an underserved area for a period of time.
• https://commonwealthbeacon.org/health/new-law-grants-pathway-for-foreign-trained-doctors-to-fill-massachusetts-physician-shortage/

• The rules package passed in the new session of the House of Representatives, including several proposals for new Migration legislation
• The measures include:
  • An amendment to the Migration and Nationality Act
  • The Laken Riley Act
  • Making assaulting a law enforcement officer a deportable offense
  • Imposing criminal penalties for fleeing a pursuing federal officer in a car
  • Restrictions on federal funding for sanctuary cities
• https://rollcall.com/2025/01/02/house-republicans-look-to-tee-up-Migration-bills/

• Tennessee Senator Todd Gardenhire proposed an amendment that would change an earlier law that would exempt School Resource Officers from a requirement that they report a person’s Migration status.
• Senator Gardenhire stated the previous law was poorly written, and that it was wrong to punish children in school.
• The Senator also said if the law wasn’t passed, it would return to the agenda in the Spring.
• https://www.wkrn.com/news/tennessee-politics/republican-sponsored-bill-would-exempt-tn-sros-from-Migration-status-reporting-requirement/

• The Supreme Court found that appeals to revoked visas cannot be heard in federal court because the USCIS is a discretionary agency.
• The Court’s majority opinion, which was unanimous, was written by Justice Kentaji Brown Jackson.
• The court found that USCIS’ decisions to revoke a visa were not mandatory (which would have meant that officials were required to follow specific rules) but discretionary, which they said makes them ineligible for judicial review in federal court
• https://bizlegalservices.com/2024/12/12/supreme-court-confirms-no-judicial-review-for-revoked-visas/

• Amid attempts to reduce a backlog of Migration cases from the outgoing Biden administration, the Migration court system is deciding the most cases it has in years.
• President Biden has implemented a “fast track” system to reduce the backlog which has been estimated at exceeding 3 million cases.
• Syracuse University found that if this pace continues “Migration judges will rule on more deportation cases in 2025 than in any previous year.”
• https://www.axios.com/2024/12/31/biden-Migration-courts-deportations