Kathmandu. The Trump administration has sought to ease immigrant concerns about the new US green card policy.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has clarified that most green card applicants will not be required to leave the U.S. while their permanent residency (green card) applications are being reviewed. The clarification comes a week after US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) said permanent residency seekers will need to return to their home countries for processing. In which exemptions will be given in exceptional circumstances. The announcement raised concerns among migrants that they would now have to return to their home countries and wait there while their green card applications were processed.
Trump’s new green card policy was heavily criticized by US lawmakers and immigration advocates. They called it “reckless and wrong”. Democratic lawmakers said they would do everything they could to fight SSCIS’ “reprehensible” decision and reverse it.
Last Friday, DHS issued a clarification saying there was no major change in policy. According to a report in the New York Times, immigration officials have long had the power to decide on a case-by-case basis whether an applicant should leave the US during the green card process.
A DHS spokesperson said the latest directives are a reminder of existing rules and are not required for all applicants. Most people seeking permanent residency or green cards will be allowed to stay in the country while they are processed, the department said.
Certain factors, such as visa overstay or other immigration concerns, could influence individual case decisions, officials said. However, DHS did not provide details about who might be affected.
