Tracking Immigration Under President Trump: 6-Month Review of Policy Shifts (Jan-June 2025)

Since President Trump took office on January 20, 2025, the U.S. immigration landscape has shifted significantly. The current administration has adopted a more enforcement-driven approach to immigration policy. This update highlights key developments from the first six months of the Trump administration, including major trends in U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) interviews and notable enforcement changes within USCIS, the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

USCIS Interview Trends: Compared to the past four years when interview waivers were frequently granted, USCIS is now conducting more interviews, and they are becoming increasingly thorough and time-intensive. USCIS officers are asking more detailed and specific questions; placing greater emphasis on consistency in prior immigration history and supporting documentation. In light of these trends, thorough preparation is essential for both petitioners and beneficiaries. You should review your applications carefully, including timelines, prior addresses, names; bring all requested documents and any updated evidence; and consult with an experienced immigration attorney if you anticipate red flags or complications.

Administratively Closed Cases before EOIR: Many previously administratively closed cases before the Immigration Court (EOIR) are now being reopened or recalendared. Immigration attorneys across the country have reported a surge in automatic recalendaring or formal Motions to Recalendar filed by DHS. This affects thousands of noncitizens whose cases had been paused, often for years, under prior policies favoring discretion and backlog reduction. Now, these individuals may find themselves placed back on active dockets, facing renewed removal proceedings and the need for immediate legal response.

USCIS Application Denials without Notice: Immigration attorneys and applicants across the country are increasingly reporting that USCIS is denying cases without providing an opportunity to respond to a Request for Evidence (RFE) or claiming that an RFE was issued, even though neither the applicant nor attorney ever received it. These sudden denials can be devastating, especially if they lead to a Notice to Appear (NTA) and removal proceedings. If your case was denied without proper notice, it's critical to determine whether the denial can be appealed or if it's best to re-file, and whether the matter has been referred to the immigration court (EOIR). Always track your case status, save all USCIS correspondence, and consult an experienced immigration attorney immediately to explore your legal options.

N-400 Citizenship Application Denial Trends: An increasing number of individuals are experiencing denials of their N-400 naturalization applications. Many applicants are unsure whether they should file Form N-336 (Request for a Hearing on a Naturalization Decision), reapply with a new N-400, or take no further action. Recent denial trends have shown that USCIS is closely scrutinizing applications for the following reasons:

• Lack of Good Moral Character

• Grave Inconsistencies

• False or Misleading Information

• Absence of Extenuating Circumstances when required

• Failure to Maintain Continuous Residence in the U.S.

• Insufficient Physical Presence during the statutory period

• Weak or Incomplete Responses to a RFE, Notice of Continuance, or Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID)

Applying for U.S. citizenship is more than just filling out a form. Before submitting Form N-400, it is essential to conduct a thorough evaluation of eligibility, especially if your record includes arrests, convictions, extended travel, or past immigration issues. Your application must be accurate, well-documented, and consistent with your entire immigration history. For those with potential red flags, it is strongly advised to consult an experienced immigration attorney.

Visa Overstay Crackdowns: On June 4, 2025, it was officially announced that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and USCIS will increase the review of immigration records nationwide. As part of the Trump administration’s enhanced enforcement strategy, these agencies will take immediate action to identify and pursue individuals who have overstayed their visas.

*Visa Overstay Announcement: https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/news-releases/cbp-ice-and-uscis-to-ramp-up-crackdown-on-visa-overstays-following-boulder-terrorist-attack

Travel Ban: On June 4, 2025, President Trump signed a new Presidential Proclamation implementing a travel ban affecting 12 countries citing national security concerns, inadequate identity verification procedures, and high visa overstay rates. The administration has also targeted 7 countries with full bans on both immigrant visas and nonimmigrant visas, including tourist, student, and exchange visitor visas (B-1/B-2, F, M and J).

*Presidential Proclamation on Travel Ban: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/06/restricting-the-entry-of-foreign-nationals-to-protect-the-united-states-from-foreign-terrorists-and-other-national-security-and-public-safety-threats/

Deferred Action for Special Immigrant Juveniles (SIJ) without Visa Availability: On June 6, 2025, USCIS announced a policy change ending the automatic grant of deferred action and work authorization for Special Immigrant Juveniles (SIJ) who are ineligible for green cards due to visa unavailability. Existing SIJ recipients with deferred action and related employment authorization documents (EADs) will generally retain them until their current validity periods expire.

*Policy Alert for SIJ Deferred Action: https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/policy-manual-updates/20250606-SIJDeferredAction.pdf

Notice to Appear (NTA) Issuance for I-751, I-485 and N-400 Denials: On February 28, 2025, USCIS released a policy memorandum updating its NTA guidance to enhance enforcement under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). The updated policy prioritizes national security, public safety, and the integrity of the immigration system, and eliminates exemptions for certain classes of removable or inadmissible non-citizens. Under the new guidance, USCIS will issue NTAs after denying immigration benefit applications and may also refer individuals to ICE for removal proceedings. Notably, NTAs may now be issued even in cases where there is no formal denial, broadening the agency’s authority to initiate enforcement actions.

*NTA Policy Memorandum: https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/policy-alerts/NTA_Policy_FINAL_2.28.25_FINAL.pdf

Immigration Judges may Pretermit Incomplete Asylum Applications (Form I-589) without a Merits Hearing: EOIR issued a policy memorandum on April 11, 2025, which encourages immigration judges to take faster action on cases that lack a valid legal basis for relief, especially asylum claims that are legally insufficient. Immigration judges can now pretermit (deny without a hearing) asylum applications that do not meet the legal requirements. This guidance was aimed to streamline removal proceedings and reduce unncessary delays in cases that have no viable legal outcome.

*EOIR Policy Memo: https://www.justice.gov/eoir/media/1396411/dl?inline

As immigration policies continue to evolve under the current administration, staying informed and seeking timely legal guidance can make all the difference in protecting your rights and securing your immigration future.

This blog was written by Attorney Poonam Minhas for informational purposes only. This blog is not to be construed as legal advice nor a formation of an attorney-client relationship. If you have questions about your immigration case, you may contact our law firm to set up a consultation. [June 2025]