Taking the next step in his campaign to secure America’s borders and protect Americans, President Donald Trump on Friday sent immigrants who want to apply for green card permission to be in the United States back to their home country to do that.
Trump already has ordered the borders secured, has implemented extensive campaigns to track down illegal alien criminals and deport them, and strengthened enforcement of border security and immigration laws in multiple ways.
His newest step, according to a report at the Hill, is to inform immigrants they “would need to return to their home country to apply for green cards.”
The report said that move “would stifle the most common pathway used for legal immigration.”
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services said it simply was a return to the “original intent” of the law.
“Under the new USCIS policy, those who have already legally lived and worked in the U.S. for years would have to return to their home country to apply to return,” the report explained.
Zach Kahler, a spokesman for the USCIS said, “From now on, an alien who is in the U.S. temporarily and wants a Green Card must return to their home country to apply, except in extraordinary circumstances. This policy allows our immigration system to function as the law intended instead of incentivizing loopholes. When aliens apply from their home country, it reduces the need to find and remove those who decide to slip into the shadows and remain in the U.S. illegally after being denied residency.”
Meanwhile, the report said, the State Department has halted immigrant visa processing in 75 different countries.
Possessing a green card gives an immigrant permanent lawful residency in the United States.
Immigrant advocates immediately erupted in rage, calling the idea “stupid and evil.”
An alien who is in the U.S. temporarily and wants a Green Card must return to their home country to apply.
This policy allows our immigration system to function as the law intended instead of incentivizing loopholes.
The era of abusing our nation’s immigration system is over. https://t.co/ofyEYGPDLC
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) May 22, 2026
The Trump administration says that people with temporary visas must return to their home countries to apply for green cards, in a major change from current practice. https://t.co/xHhYeFaSWW
— NBC News (@NBCNews) May 22, 2026
EXCELLENT!!!! It’s called common sense. https://t.co/GEBFyhySiV
— Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) May 22, 2026
