Immigrants seeking green cards through marriage may face deportation as the Trump administration continues its crackdown on migrants. A new policy outlined by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services on Monday allows federal authorities to begin ‘removal proceedings’ for applicants who lack legal status. The policy has gone into immediate effect and applies to pending requests as well as those filed on or after August 1.
“If USCIS determines the alien beneficiary is removeable and amenable to removal from the United States, USCIS may issue a Notice to Appear placing the beneficiary in removal proceedings. Petitioners and alien beneficiaries should be aware that a family-based petition accords no immigration status nor does it bar removal,” a section of the USCIS’ policy manual explains.
What does this mean?
The new policy broadly targets a major pathway for immigrants seeking green cards. Experts indicate that the updated scope of the policy will also allow USCIS to begin removal proceedings for a green-card applicant at any point in the process —without giving them a chance to fix mistakes or submit extra evidence.
Immigration authorities can now deny applications and refer such individuals to immigration court for possible removal. Missing documents or minor errors had historically led to warnings or a chance to respond before denial. Applicants will also be required to submit stronger evidence showing that the relationship is genuine (such as joint finances, photos, affidavits) and undergo in-person interviews. USCIS is also likely to scrutinse past applications and immigration history more closely in the coming days.
How many people apply in this manner?
According to rough estimates, around 650,000 to 810,000 immigrants apply for family-based green cards every year. This includes a significant number of Indians — limited by per-country limits for issue of the coveted document. According to reports, India is among the top countries receiving family-based green cards, with about 29,725 issued in the 2024 financial year.