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Migrating to the United States was not easy, but it has become even more difficult under President Trump’s administration with stricter immigration policies and heightened enforcement efforts. With proposed changes to the immigration law, it is even more important to be aware of what is happening and what you can do to ensure application approval. Alina Kats supports and advocates for you through every stage of the process and handles your case the best way so you can achieve your immigration goals successfully and secure your future.
The United States is home to millions of lawful immigrants. Most of these immigrants live and work in the country after they receive lawful permanent residence, also known as green card, while others have temporary work and student visas. In addition to these, about 1 million unauthorized immigrants have temporary permission to live and work in the US through various programs such as DACA and TPS.
Even before he took oath, President Trump was talking about a change in immigration policies and clearly said that during his second term, he would focus on stricter border control, expedited deportations, and redefined legal immigration pathways. Trump and his supporters have been pushing to change the immigration system from family reunification and employment-based immigration to a points-based system that would ensure only immigrants with certain academic and English speaking and employment qualifications can enter the US.
Read on to learn some key facts about the existing US immigration programs, Trump’s proposed changes, and how these changes can impact the immigration system in the long run.
It is one of the most common pathways for individuals to immigrate to the United States. Millions of people receive lawful permanent residence status in the US through family-based immigration. This program enables an individual to receive a green card if their spouse, child, sibling, or parents have US citizenship or a green card and live here. However, immigrants from countries with large numbers of applications often have to wait for years before they can receive a green card because a single country can account for no more than 7% of all green cards issued annually.
According to President Donald Trump, he would prioritize family-based green cards for immediate family members. Also referred to by some as chain migration, family-based immigration has been the most common way for people to gain green cards, accounting for about two-thirds of the more than 1 million people who receive them yearly. With the president’s suggestion, this share could decline to about one-third.
Related: Family-Based Immigration: 10 Facts That May Surprise You
The US has always welcomed people fleeing violence, war, and persecution in their home countries, and the high number of refugees recorded is a testament to that. However, in the past few years, authorities have been trying to control the number of people entering the country by putting an admission cap and implementing stricter policies.
During his first term as president, Trump froze refugee admissions based on security concerns. While admissions from most countries were resumed, applicants from 11 nations were still deemed high risk, and they were only admitted on a case-to-case basis. However, in January 2018, refugee admissions were resumed for all countries. This means that anyone who fears persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group is eligible for refugee status in the US.
Employment-based green cards are awarded to foreign nationals to become lawful permanent residents based on their job skills, qualifications, or job offers from US employers. Employment-based green cards are a significant pathway that enables skilled workers to build a future in the US while at the same time benefiting employers by filling critical labor gaps and strengthening innovation.
The Trump administration plans to increase the number of green cards to specific skill sets. The new system will eliminate green cards for EB-5 immigrant investors who invest in commercial US enterprises to create jobs and benefit the economy, as this has drawn criticism from various sectors.
About 50,000 people are awarded green cards through the US diversity visa program, also known as the visa lottery every year. Since this program was introduced in 1995, more than 1 million people have migrated to the US and become lawful permanent residents.
Trump has been talking about eliminating the program as it grants visas to underrepresented nations and diversifies the US immigration population. Most legal immigrants have been coming from Mexico, Canada, China, and India. Due to this, citizens of these countries are no longer eligible to apply. According to Trump, eliminating this program is a part of his plan to overhaul the way green cards are awarded.
It is a popular nonimmigrant work visa that permits US employers to hire foreign workers in specialty occupations that require technical and professional knowledge. It is one of the biggest temporary employment visa programs, which accounts for about a quarter of all temporary visas for employment issued in the past few years.
The denial rate of H-1B visas increased during Trump’s last tenure. Meanwhile, more H-1B visas went to immigrants with a US master’s degree or higher. The government says it plans to restrict work permits for spouses of H-1B visa holders.
Related: Which Companies Sponsor the Most H-1B Visas?
Unauthorized immigrants who managed to come to the US under unusual circumstances received temporary legal permission to stay in the country. It is essential to understand that even though these immigrants get permission to live here, most of them do not get lawful permanent residency.
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) are two programs that grant permission to unauthorized immigrants to live and work temporarily in the US, but they do not have a secure future. Since he took office in January 2025, President Trump has ordered an end to these programs. While his decisions have been challenged in court, the future of these programs is still uncertain.
US immigration seems to be undergoing significant changes under the Trump regime through executive actions, regulations, and legislation. Since he took office, Trump has been trying to ban travel, limit asylum, end DACA, and reintroduce public charge rules to make it harder for immigrants to use public benefits to obtain green cards.
Contact Kats Immigration Law Firm if you are considering applying for a family or employment-based visa or have already started the US immigration process and want to know how Trump’s proposed changes may affect your case. Alina Kats provides comprehensive legal services and helps you explore your options. She guides you every step of the way through these complexities and ensures you are fully prepared to navigate the rapidly changing immigration landscape and get the best outcomes for you and your family.