Adjustment of Status
USCIS Filing Trends: New Data Shows Immigration Processing Falling Further Behind
Processing at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has continued to slow, the latest data from the American Immigration Council’s USCIS Immigration Filing Trends Dashboard shows. The updated data for fiscal year 2026 shows a broad slowdown in immigration processing, with fewer applications being processed, persistently large… Read More
The Biggest Changes to Student Visas in Generations: What You Need to Know
On July 17, 2026, the Trump administration unveiled the latest move in its broader efforts to reshape America’s legal immigration system. This time, it was a regulation that will lead to the greatest changes in the student visa process in 50 years, as well as changes to visas for… Read More
Did the Supreme Court Hand the Government a ‘Massive Blank Check’ to Put Traveling Green Card Holders in Legal Limbo?
The Supreme Court issued its first immigration opinion of the current term in Blanche v. Lau on Tuesday. The case is about what protections green card holders receive when they come home to the United States after traveling abroad. Muk Choi Lau has been a green card… Read More
The Trump Administration Stopped Processing Certain Green Card Applications. Our FOIA Found What Happened Next.
Under the second Trump administration, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has repeatedly paused the processing of applications for all types of immigration benefits, including applications for legal permanent residency, commonly referred to as adjustment of status or getting your green card. One of the first suspensions occurred between… Read More
New USCIS Memo May Force More Green Card Applicants to Apply from Abroad, Causing Chaos and Confusion
Update: The text and headline of this post were updated on June 1, 2026, to reflect recent statements made by USCIS. On May 21, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a policy memorandum (PM-602-0199) concerning green card applications filed within the United States. While the Trump… Read More
Council and AILA File Lawsuit to Compel DHS and USCIS to Release Details about the Suspension of Processing Asylees’ and Refugees’ Green Card Applications
On March 25, 2025, media reports surfaced indicating that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)—the agency in charge of approving green card applications and other immigration benefits—had stopped processing green card applications filed by asylees and refugees. The suspension impacts tens of thousands of individuals who fled their home… Read More
The Council and NIP File FOIA on How USCIS’ Alien Smuggling Determinations Impact Approval of Immigration Benefits
This FOIA request seeks records and data from USCIS about how the agency determines whether a migrant smuggled another person into the United States. Read More
The Biden Administration’s Parole-In-Place Announcement
President Biden announced a new “parole-in-place” program for undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens. What does it mean, and who will benefit? Read More
Biden Announces Immigration Protections for Up to 550,000 Spouses and Children of US Citizens
On June 18, the Biden administration announced two major new policies which may help provide streamlined paths to legal status for certain long-time undocumented immigrants. The first policy will allow undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens who have been in the country to apply for “parole in place,” a protection… Read More
Biden Expands Immigration Protections to Undocumented Spouses and Streamlines Employment-Based Visas for DACA Recipients
On June 18, the Biden administration announced policy changes that will provide immigration relief to thousands of deeply-rooted immigrants in the United States. Read More
America's story is an immigrant story.