The Trump administration has clarified and effectively walked back an earlier announcement regarding Green Card applications, according to reporting cited by The New York Times.
Last week, a Department of Homeland Security statement suggested that non-citizens in the United States seeking permanent residency would be required to return to their home countries to apply, with only limited exceptions for extraordinary circumstances. That announcement was widely interpreted as a major shift in immigration policy.
However, DHS later told The New York Times that the guidance was not a blanket requirement. Instead, it would be applied on a “case-by-case basis,” softening the original interpretation.
The clarification comes after public concern over the potential impact on millions of immigrants already in the U.S. pursuing permanent residency. The United States issues over one million Green Cards annually, and many applicants are already residing in the country while going through the process.
An administration official defended the policy, saying it was consistent with longstanding immigration law and would not prevent qualified applicants from obtaining Green Cards, but could change where some applications are processed.
Overall, the updated position reduces the scope of the earlier announcement and signals a more flexible enforcement approach rather than a strict new requirement.
