Annual U.S. immigration balance: security, control, and policy changes during 2025
At the close of 2025, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) presented a report of its main actions of the year, focused on reinforcing national security, improving background checks, and strengthening coordination with other agencies of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). According to the agency, these measures sought to restore the integrity of the immigration system through regulatory adjustments, greater internal control, and a stricter focus on the eligibility of those who apply for immigration benefits.
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Among the most relevant changes are the tightening of investigative processes and the creation of a new Investigations Center to detect risks to public safety, fraud, and possible links to criminal or terrorist activities. USCIS also reported a significant increase in case referrals to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and in the issuance of Notices to Appear, in addition to a greater presence of officers in local offices and new law-enforcement authorities delegated by DHS.
The report also highlights an offensive against immigration fraud, with thousands of investigations, social-media checks, and large-scale operations to detect fraudulent marriages, misuse of work visas, and other irregularities. In parallel, the agency adjusted policies on employment authorization, family relationships, and false claims to U.S. citizenship, reducing validity periods and eliminating automatic extensions to reinforce security controls.
Finally, USCIS reported changes in programs and benefits that, according to the agency, had been subject to abuse, such as the broad use of humanitarian parole and certain Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designations. It also introduced reforms to the naturalization process, including a more demanding citizenship test and the reinstatement of community investigations. Altogether, the official balance presents 2025 as a year of stricter policies, with the stated goal of prioritizing security, legality, and the interests of the United States within its immigration system.
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