US immigration authorities have issued a message that impacts both legal immigrants and those without status.
According to USCISThe new policies implemented under the Donald Trump administration do not differentiate between the two categories when applying stricter measures.
The statement comes in a recent press release, where the agency reviewed the changes implemented since January and argued that they aim to protect the country's labor market.
A direct message from USCIS
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) asserted that its actions under the current administration are based on “common sense.” According to the USCIS, the presence of foreign nationals is negatively impacting the wages and opportunities of American workers.
USCIS noted that the decisions made since January 20 2025 have allowed recupHe claimed to have restored the "sanity" of the immigration system after the Biden administration left office. He also stated that he had closed "legal loopholes" that, in his view, weakened national security.
The most forceful message came from spokesman Matthew Tragesser. “The distinction between legal and illegal immigration becomes meaningless when both can destroy the foundations of a country,” he stated. He added that “uncontrolled mass migration floods the American labor market, driving down wages and taking jobs away from hardworking Americans, while also straining healthcare, education, and housing systems.”
USCIS asserted that the Trump administration is implementing policies to ensure that "only the most deserving obtain the privilege of U.S. citizenship."
Measures highlighted by the agency
The agency listed a series of decisions made this year. Among them were the elimination of protections such as Temporary Protected Status and several parole categories.
One of the most sensitive points is the end of the humanitarian parole program created for citizens of Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. USCIS emphasized that these limitations are part of a larger effort to reduce legal immigration to levels they consider “reasonable.”
He also highlighted his coordination with Immigration and Customs Enforcement in operations that have led to thousands of arrests. According to USCIS, since January it has referred “nearly 3,200 people with removal orders” and other criminal alerts, resulting in the arrest of “nearly 2,000 criminal and illegal aliens.”
Social media surveillance and more controls
Another measure highlighted by the agency is the review of social media accounts of those applying for immigration benefits. The stated objective is to detect “anti-American ideologies” or positions contrary to the country's interests.
USCIS also touted the progress of its recruitment campaign for new "defenders of the homeland," launched in late September. The initiative has received more than 35,000 applications.
Among the additional changes mentioned are more rigorous vetting of citizenship applicants. This includes modifications to the civics test and the reactivation of investigations in neighborhoods where applicants reside.
An increasingly restrictive migration climate
The USCIS announcements come as other federal agencies are also tightening their enforcement. The Border Patrol, for example, recently confirmed the deployment of more agents to South Florida. Other measures, such as stricter medical screening for visa applicants, reinforce this trend.
The official message makes it clear that the new rules apply even to those who have been complying with all their procedures for years.
The agency insists that the goal is to reduce migratory pressure and strengthen internal control, even if this affects legal immigrants.
