Policy Updates

13,000+ Asylum Seekers Ordered to Countries They've Never Visited Under Trump Policy

More than 13,000 people legally living in the US while awaiting asylum rulings have been ordered deported to countries they have no ties to — places like Uganda, Ecuador, and Honduras. Most haven't been deported yet, but they've lost work permits and are stuck in legal limbo. Advocates say the fear itself is the point.

The H-1B Lottery Just Changed: Winners & Losers

As FY 2027 selection notifications roll out, the first-ever wage-based H-1B lottery is already reshaping the tech workforce, crushing early-career professionals, and triggering legal battles in three federal courts.

Proposal at publication

DOL Proposes Higher H-1B and PERM Wages — What Workers and Employers Need to Know

The Department of Labor wants to raise the minimum wages employers must pay H-1B, H-1B1, E-3, and PERM-sponsored workers — potentially the biggest prevailing wage overhaul in years. The goal: stop companies from using visa programs to undercut American workers with cheaper foreign labor. If finalized, this rule could raise costs for thousands of employers and reshape how H-1B salaries are set.

2 reports · One policy timeline

The H-1B Revolution: Wage-Based Lottery, Plunging Registrations, and a Healthcare Revolt Reshape America's Skilled Worker Pipeline

White House Creates Fraud Task Force That Could Tighten Immigrant Access to Benefits

President Trump signed an executive order creating a new Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, chaired by the Vice President, targeting federal benefits programs. The order explicitly names immigrants and 'illegal aliens' as exploiting welfare programs, and directs agencies to develop stricter eligibility verification and anti-fraud controls. For visa holders and immigrants, this could mean new documentation hurdles and tighter scrutiny when accessing any federally funded benefits.

State Dept Now Requires Passport Scans for Diversity Visa Lottery — Starting April 10

The U.S. Department of State is cracking down on fraud in the Diversity Immigrant Visa (DV) lottery by requiring applicants to submit valid passport information and a scanned copy of their passport when entering. The rule takes effect April 10, 2026 — if you plan to enter a future DV lottery, you'll need a passport in hand. This change comes after 2.5 million fraudulent entries were discovered in the DV-2025 cycle alone.

White House Nominates Mullin as DHS Secretary — What It Means for Visa Holders

The White House has sent Markwayne Mullin's nomination as Secretary of Homeland Security to the Senate for confirmation. As DHS oversees USCIS and immigration enforcement, a new secretary could shape H-1B, F-1, and other visa policies. Here's what immigration-watchers should know.

White House Proclaims War on Cartels — What It Could Mean for Immigration Enforcement

President Trump signed a proclamation on March 7, 2026, formally declaring a commitment to dismantling cartels and foreign terrorist organizations in the Western Hemisphere. While the document focuses on military and foreign policy, its broader enforcement context — including expanded FTO designations — has real implications for asylum seekers, undocumented immigrants, and visa holders with any cartel-related ties.

White House EO Targets Cybercrime TCOs — Visa Restrictions and Sanctions on the Table

President Trump signed an executive order directing federal agencies to crack down on foreign transnational criminal organizations behind ransomware, scam centers, and fraud schemes. The order puts visa restrictions, sanctions, and even diplomat expulsions on the table for nations that shelter these operations. While not an immigration rule change, visa holders from countries linked to cybercrime TCOs could face collateral scrutiny.

2 reports · One policy timeline

DHS Ends Yemen TPS: Thousands Lose Protected Status on May 4

The Department of Homeland Security is terminating Temporary Protected Status for Yemen, effective May 4, 2026 — ending deportation protection and work authorization for Yemeni nationals who've relied on TPS since 2015. DHS says conditions in Yemen have improved enough to no longer justify the designation, a conclusion many advocates are likely to dispute. If you hold Yemen TPS, you have weeks to understand your options before your status disappears.

2 reports · One policy timeline

EOIR Requires Electronic Filing for Immigration Enforcement Cases at OCAHO

The Justice Department's immigration court arm is going digital: all cases before the Office of the Chief Administrative Hearing Officer (OCAHO) must now be filed electronically. The rule took effect immediately on March 2, 2026, changing how employers, workers, and attorneys submit documents in I-9, immigration discrimination, and civil penalty cases. If you're involved in an OCAHO proceeding, your filing process just changed.

Proposal at publication

2 reports · One policy timeline

DHS Proposes to Block Asylum Seekers from Work Permits for a Year — or Longer

The Department of Homeland Security wants to double the wait time before asylum applicants can apply for a work permit — and could pause new applications entirely for years if immigration backlogs stay high. If finalized, this rule would fundamentally reshape who can work legally while waiting for an asylum decision. You have until April 24 to comment.