Documents leaked in recent hours confirm a significant shift in US immigration policy. Several sources in Washington agree that the Trump administration is finalizing a rule that would complicate the approval of residency, asylum, parole, and other essential statuses for thousands of immigrants.
And although the draft clarifies that it wouldn't apply directly to citizenship applications, the ripple effect would be evident. That is, if permanent residency approvals are reduced, the number of people who can eventually obtain U.S. citizenship would also decrease.
La proposal It has not yet been officially presented. However, it is already generating alarm among migrant organizations and entire communities in countries included in the travel ban decreed by Trump months ago.
A new criterion that would weigh against certain migrants
El New York Times It was revealed that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services plans to use “significant negative factors” when evaluating applications from people from countries subject to the travel ban. The list includes Afghanistan, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Iran, Haiti, Libya, Eritrea, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, and Myanmar, as well as partial restrictions for Cuba, Venezuela, Laos, Sierra Leone, Burundi, Togo, and Turkmenistan.
This change would apply to all applications requiring discretionary review. In such cases, an officer must weigh positive and negative factors before making a final decision. Furthermore, the new approach would incorporate the country of origin as a factor that, on its own, could tip the scales toward denial.
The rule would not affect those applying for citizenship directly. However, by making it more difficult to obtain permanent residency and asylum, “it would clearly also limit access to American citizenship for immigrant applicants,” according to experts consulted by several U.S. media outlets.
pricecupinteraction between specialists and former USCIS officials
Former agency officials believe the change breaks with established practice. They point out that while some documents have always been difficult to verify, they have never been formal grounds for rejection. They fear the measure will act as a covert ban on nationals of certain countries, even if they have lived legally in the country for years and have already passed security checks.
Doug Rand, a former high-ranking USCIS official, called the proposal a “radical change” because it is based on country of birth rather than an individual analysis of each case. Other analysts anticipate discrimination lawsuits, especially since the rule would affect people already in the United States, a legal issue distinct from border entry bans.
Immediate effects: fewer approvals and more uncertainty
The Trump administration is also reducing the number of refugees admitted, increasing social media verification, and expanding controls on activities deemed “un-American.” Taken together, these actions further restrict avenues for humanitarian protection.
Drafts obtained by the press indicate that the “negative factors” would also apply to asylum and parole applications. This would complicate processes that until now have relied on case-by-case assessments. Immigration lawyers anticipate a sharp increase in denials and a direct impact on already vulnerable communities.
For now, the plan remains under review. However, if approved in its current form, it would represent one of the most restrictive immigration measures in recent years, with repercussions ranging from those seeking residency to those who once aspired to U.S. citizenship.