How the Immigration System Works
The U.S. immigration system operates under an intricate set of rules that outline who can enter, reside in, and become a citizen of the United States. It includes various pathways like family-based immigration, employment visas, and refugee and asylum status, each with its own criteria and application processes. Several federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security and the State Department, oversee the system and enforce immigration laws and policies, handle applications, and manage border control. Learn more by exploring the resources below.
How the United States Immigration System Works
- How the Immigration System Works
- June 23, 2024
U.S. immigration law is very complex, and there is much confusion as to how it works. This fact sheet provides basic information…
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What Are Third-Country Removals? Understanding Their Use In U.S. Immigration Policy
Third-country deportation and third-country removal are terms used to refer to any case in which the government sends someone to a country that is not the country in which they lived prior to arriving in the United States, nor to a country of which they are a citizen or… Read More
Can Undocumented Immigrants Get SNAP or Medicaid? The Truth About Federal Benefits
Key Takeaways Amid widespread misinformation about immigrants, SNAP, Medicaid, and government benefits, it’s critical to know the facts. Who qualifies for specific federal public benefits can be complicated, relying on a sweeping checklist of eligibility criteria. The recent passage of President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill… Read More
What a Government Shutdown Means for the Immigration System
With weeks of failed negotiations, Congress has less than 12 hours to avert a possible government shutdown. Should government funding lapse on October 1 without a deal, the impact will be felt differently across the government agencies that play a role in the immigration system. Democratic members of… Read More
Why Is It So Hard to Become a US Citizen?
Key Takeaways “Why don’t they just get in line?” It’s a question often directed toward undocumented immigrants living in the United States, a pointed challenge on why someone didn’t come to the country “the right way.” The short answer: there is no “line” available for most immigrants. The… Read More
Detention under INA § 235(b): The Statutory Scheme and Strategies for Release
Immigration authorities have long invoked § 235(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to justify the detention of noncitizens entering the United States. The number of noncitizens detained under INA § 235(b), rather than the general detention provision, INA § 236(a), has increased exponentially in recent years. The… Read More
The Trump Administration Moves to Reinstate Restrictions on Legal Immigration Proposed in First Term
As we continue to see sweeping changes to immigration enforcement inside the United States, the Trump administration has also begun taking steps to restrict immigration to the United States. Over the past two weeks, the Trump administration announced that it was intending to bring back multiple policies from Trump’s… Read More
What Is Habeas Corpus and Why Is It Important? Here’s What DHS Secretary Kristi Noem Got Wrong
In a tense exchange during a Senate hearing on Tuesday, Democratic Sen. Maggie Hassan asked Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem if she could define “habeas corpus.” “Habeas corpus” is the constitutional right that ensures that people have a chance to challenge their imprisonment in front of a judge. Habeas corpus… Read More
District Court Greenlights ICE-IRS Agreement, Blurring Lines Between Civil Immigration Enforcement and Criminal Investigations
On May 12, 2025, a federal district court allowed an unprecedented information-sharing agreement between U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to take effect. This marks the first time the IRS has formally agreed to provide taxpayer information to ICE under a memorandum… Read More
Invisible Gatekeepers: DHS’ Growing Use of AI in Immigration Decisions
On April 30, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released the updated 2024 inventory of unclassified and non-sensitive AI use cases within the department. The public data revealed something powerful: artificial intelligence isn’t just a future possibility in immigration enforcement—it’s already here. In fact, the inventory listed 105 active… Read More
Recovery and Reform: An Ex-Gang Member’s Story
Congress approved a full-year continuing resolution on March 14 that will fund mass deportation while gutting domestic spending. The economic and humanitarian costs will plunge the most vulnerable communities into turmoil while stripping away essential services for all. Systemic failures will continue to spiral while children, U.S.-citizen or… Read More
America's story is an immigrant story.
