U. S. Immigration Changes: What's Happening to Legal Pathways?

In the first 11 months of the Trump presidency, over 1.6 million immigrants lost their legal status in the U.S. This staggering number includes individuals who entered the country through various legal programs such as visas, asylum, and temporary protected status (TPS). To put this into perspective, it's equivalent to the entire population of Philadelphia losing their legal rights.

Administration's Policy Changes

The Trump administration has implemented sweeping changes to immigration rules, ending programs that previously allowed people to stay in the U.S. legally. Immigration advocates argue that this is the largest effort ever to strip deportation protections from legal immigrants. They also believe the actual number of affected individuals is even higher.

Impact on Long-Term Residents

Many of these immigrants have been in the U.S. for years. Now, they face uncertainty as their immigration cases may not be processed quickly. The administration is urging them to leave the country as their legal status is being revoked.

The administration justifies these actions by stating that they are saving money and protecting the country. They argue that having a visa is a privilege, not a right, and can be revoked if someone is deemed a threat.

Programs Ended

One of the programs that was terminated is the diversity visa lottery. The administration claims this is to protect the country, but immigration advocates argue that it is making more people deportable.

The administration has also ended temporary protected status (TPS) for 10 countries. TPS is a program designed to protect individuals from countries affected by war, natural disasters, or other unsafe conditions. The administration insists these programs are only temporary, but advocates argue that the conditions in these countries have not improved.

Legal Challenges and Uncertainty

There are ongoing lawsuits challenging these changes, and some individuals may still be able to apply for other forms of protection. However, for now, many immigrants are facing uncertainty and fear.