DHS applies adjustments to consolidate the immigration system and maintain more controlled legal levels
USCIS announced a series of measures aimed at strengthening the enforcement of immigration laws since January 2025. Under the Trump administration, the agency states it has closed legal loopholes and adjusted programs to ensure that immigration benefits are granted according to the criteria set by Congress. Among the most relevant changes are the end of categorical humanitarian parole programs and the termination of TPS for several countries, moving to a system of case-by-case evaluations.
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The agency also intensified background checks and collaboration with ICE, generating thousands of referrals related to removal orders, fraud, and security risks. Recent operations, such as Operation Twin Shield, revealed cases of marriage fraud, visa abuse, and criminal networks linked to immigration applications. USCIS has also increased the use of social media reviews to support discretionary decisions in immigration processes.
In the operational sphere, USCIS launched a large hiring campaign to strengthen its new enforcement units and received additional investigative and arrest authority. The naturalization process was also modified with an expanded civics exam and deeper moral character evaluations, including neighborhood investigations to validate information submitted by applicants.
Finally, the agency adjusted key policies such as the issuance of Notices to Appear —which exceed 172,000 since February—, eliminated the automatic extension of certain work permits, and strengthened the SAVE system to verify immigration status in electoral processes. USCIS also updated the public charge guidance and announced a new additional fee requirement for H-1B petitions, in line with the presidential proclamation on nonimmigrant workers.
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