DHS
Policy Change
USCIS
ICE
Immigration News 2025
Government Funding
May 5, 2026
President Trump signed a bipartisan DHS funding bill on April 30, 2026, ending a record 76-day partial government shutdown that had disrupted operations across DHS agencies, though ICE and Border Patrol funding will be addressed separately through budget reconciliation.
What This Means for You:
- Key Point 1: The DHS funding bill restores routine operations for most DHS agencies, which may help stabilize USCIS processing timelines for pending immigration applications.
- Who Should Be Concerned: All immigration applicants with cases pending at USCIS, TSA travelers, and individuals relying on DHS services that were disrupted during the shutdown.
- Timeline for Action: The bill is now law; a separate $70 billion ICE and Border Patrol funding bill is expected to move through Congress in May 2026.
- Next Steps: Applicants with pending USCIS cases should monitor their case status online and consult with an immigration attorney if they have experienced unusual delays or received no updates during the shutdown period.
USCIS
Visa Updates
H-2B
Temporary Workers
Employment
May 5, 2026
USCIS announced on April 30, 2026, that it has reached the cap for the second allocation of 27,736 supplemental H-2B returning worker visas for FY 2026, with April 21 as the final receipt date for petitions.
What This Means for You:
- Key Point 1: USCIS is no longer accepting petitions under the second supplemental H-2B allocation; employers who missed the April 21 deadline cannot file under this tranche.
- Who Should Be Concerned: U.S. employers in seasonal industries such as landscaping, hospitality, seafood processing, and construction who rely on temporary foreign workers, as well as prospective H-2B employees.
- Timeline for Action: Employers should immediately assess their workforce needs for the remainder of FY 2026 and begin preparing for FY 2027 H-2B filings.
- Next Steps: Consult with an immigration attorney to explore alternative temporary worker visa categories, monitor USCIS for any future supplemental allocations, and begin the H-2B recruitment and petition process well in advance of next year's filing window.
Policy Change
H-1B
Visa Updates
Travel Ban
J-1
Healthcare Workers
May 5, 2026
The Trump administration quietly reversed its policy on May 3, 2026, exempting foreign physicians from a visa freeze affecting citizens of 39 travel-ban countries, after hospitals were forced to place some doctors on administrative leave.
What This Means for You:
- Key Point 1: Foreign physicians from the 39 travel-ban countries can now obtain or renew visas to practice medicine in the United States, reversing the January 2026 freeze.
- Who Should Be Concerned: Foreign-born doctors on H-1B, J-1, or other work visas from the 39 affected countries, as well as hospitals and healthcare facilities employing them.
- Timeline for Action: The exemption is effective immediately; physicians and employers with pending delayed applications should act promptly.
- Next Steps: Affected physicians should contact their immigration attorney to assess whether their visa applications or renewals qualify under the exemption and to restart any stalled proceedings; hospitals should review the status of all affected medical staff and coordinate with legal counsel.
DHS
Policy Change
Green Card
ICE
Immigration News 2025
Enforcement
Deportation
May 5, 2026
The Trump administration is recalibrating its immigration enforcement strategy as of May 2026, moving from high-profile raids toward quieter tactics including expanded 287(g) agreements and stripping legal protections, while maintaining ambitious deportation targets of 1 million removals per year.
What This Means for You:
- Key Point 1: The administration is shifting to less visible but potentially more pervasive enforcement tactics, including expanded local law enforcement partnerships and denial of green card applications to make more immigrants arrestable.
- Who Should Be Concerned: All undocumented immigrants, individuals with pending green card or TPS applications, and those living in states with expanded 287(g) agreements with ICE.
- Timeline for Action: These changes are currently in effect and are expected to intensify over the coming months.
- Next Steps: Immigrants with pending applications should consult an attorney to ensure filings are complete and timely; individuals in states with 287(g) agreements should be aware that routine interactions with local law enforcement may trigger immigration checks; all immigrants should know their rights and have an attorney's contact information readily available.
Policy Change
USCIS
Work Authorization
Asylum
May 4, 2026
Starting May 29, 2026, asylum seekers who fail to pay the Annual Asylum Fee within 30 days will have their applications rejected and lose work authorization.
What This Means for You:
- Key Point 1: Failure to pay the Annual Asylum Fee will result in application rejection, loss of work permits, and potential deportation.
- Who Should Be Concerned: All individuals with pending asylum applications in the United States.
- Timeline for Action: The new rule takes effect on May 29, 2026.
- Next Steps: Asylum seekers must ensure USCIS has their current mailing address, closely monitor their mail for fee notifications, and submit payments within the strict 30-day window.
Policy Change
USCIS
Work Authorization
DACA
May 4, 2026
DACA renewal processing times have surged, causing many recipients to lose their work authorization and protection from deportation while waiting for approval.
What This Means for You:
- Key Point 1: DACA renewals are taking significantly longer, often exceeding 3-6 months.
- Who Should Be Concerned: All current DACA recipients whose status will expire within the next year.
- Timeline for Action: Immediate action is required for those approaching their expiration date.
- Next Steps: Submit DACA renewal applications at least 150 days before your current status expires, and consult an attorney if your status lapses while waiting.
Policy Change
Deportation
DACA
April 30, 2026
A Justice Department appeals board ruled that having active DACA status is not enough to prevent deportation proceedings, increasing risks for "Dreamers."
What This Means for You:
- Key Point 1: DACA status alone will no longer guarantee protection from deportation proceedings in immigration court.
- Who Should Be Concerned: All current DACA recipients, especially those with expiring work permits or prior encounters with law enforcement.
- Timeline for Action: The ruling is effective immediately and applies to ongoing and future immigration court cases.
- Next Steps: DACA recipients must file renewal applications as early as possible due to processing delays and should consult an attorney if placed in removal proceedings.
Policy Change
USCIS
Green Card
Asylum
April 30, 2026
USCIS has introduced stricter vetting protocols, including social media screening and case holds, which will likely delay processing for green cards, asylum, and work permits.
What This Means for You:
- Key Point 1: Applicants should expect longer processing times and potential Requests for Evidence (RFEs) due to expanded background and social media checks.
- Who Should Be Concerned: Asylum seekers, Diversity Visa applicants, naturalization candidates, and individuals applying for or renewing work permits.
- Timeline for Action: The enhanced screening protocols are currently in effect.
- Next Steps: Applicants should file renewals well in advance, maintain clean social media profiles, and ensure all application documentation is thorough and accurate.
Policy Change
ICE
Enforcement
Immigrant Rights
April 27, 2026
Following a leadership shakeup, ICE has directed its officers to curtail arrests at courthouses and cease entering homes without judicial warrants, signaling a shift away from its most aggressive enforcement tactics.
What This Means for You:
- Key Point 1: Immigrants may face a reduced risk of arrest by ICE when attending local or state court proceedings.
- Who Should Be Concerned: Undocumented immigrants and those with pending immigration cases who need to interact with the justice system.
- Timeline for Action: The policy shift is currently in effect.
- Next Steps: Individuals should continue to exercise their rights, including the right to remain silent and the right to an attorney, and should seek legal counsel if approached by immigration enforcement.
USCIS
Green Card
Visa Updates
Employment-Based
April 27, 2026
USCIS has introduced online filing for Form I-485 for select employment-based green card applicants, allowing for digital document uploads and fee payments to streamline the adjustment of status process.
What This Means for You:
- Key Point 1: Eligible employment-based applicants can now file their Form I-485 electronically, potentially speeding up the receipt process.
- Who Should Be Concerned: Foreign professionals applying for employment-based green cards and their sponsoring employers.
- Timeline for Action: The online filing option is available now.
- Next Steps: Applicants and employers should coordinate with their immigration attorneys to utilize the myUSCIS portal for new filings, ensuring all digital documents meet USCIS specifications while retaining original medical forms.
Policy Change
USCIS
H-1B
Visa Updates
April 19, 2026
H-1B and L-1 visa applicants are experiencing wait times of four months or more for consular interviews, leaving many skilled workers stranded abroad and disrupting U.S. businesses.
What This Means for You:
- Key Point 1: Traveling outside the U.S. requiring a new visa stamp carries a high risk of prolonged delays in returning to work.
- Who Should Be Concerned: Current H-1B and L-1 visa holders planning international travel, and U.S. employers relying on these workers.
- Timeline for Action: Immediate; travel plans should be reassessed based on current consular wait times in the destination country.
- Next Steps: Avoid unnecessary international travel if a new visa stamp is required. Employers should consult with immigration counsel to develop contingency plans for affected staff.
TPS
Policy Change
Immigration News 2025
April 18, 2026
The U.S. House passed a bipartisan bill to extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian immigrants for three years, though it faces an uncertain future in the Senate.
What This Means for You:
- **Key Point 1:** The bill aims to provide a 3-year TPS extension for Haitians, but is not yet law.
- **Who Should Be Concerned:** Haitian nationals currently in the U.S. relying on TPS or facing deportation.
- **Timeline for Action:** Monitor closely over the next few weeks as the Senate considers the bill and the Supreme Court hears related arguments.
- **Next Steps:** Affected individuals should consult with an immigration attorney to explore all available legal options and prepare for potential policy shifts.
