U.S. Administration Moves to Tighten Immigration Benefits for Nationals of Travel Ban Countries

The U.S. administration under President Donald Trump is preparing new immigration policies that would further restrict green cards and other immigration benefits for citizens of countries covered by Trump’s travel ban, according to a report by The New York Times.

Internal documents from the Department of Homeland Security reveal that draft guidelines still not finalized suggest the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) could classify applicants from travel ban countries as “significant negative applicants” when reviewing certain immigration petitions.

Former USCIS official Doug Rand, who served during the Joe Biden administration, described the move as “a fundamental change.” If implemented, the new policy would make it considerably more difficult for nationals of affected countries to secure permanent residency and other immigration pathways in the United States.

The proposal underscores a broader tightening of immigration rules, signaling that individuals from travel ban nations may face heightened scrutiny and reduced opportunities to settle in the U.S