Trump's policy leaves marriage-based immigration applicants, spouses of US citizens facing scrutiny: Report
The Trump administration's immigration policies are increasingly impacting spouses of US citizens, a category that has traditionally received preferential treatment under US immigration law. According
The Trump administration's immigration policies are increasingly impacting spouses of US citizens, a category that has traditionally received preferential treatment under US immigration law. According to a report, tougher enforcement measures, stricter vetting and broader deportation efforts have left many mixed-status families facing uncertainty, prolonged delays and fears of detention. What has changed? Since President Donald Trump returned to the White House, his administration has introduced a series of immigration measures aimed at slowing legal migration. These include pausing immigrant visas for people from 75 countries, increasing scrutiny during green card interviews and expanding deportation enforcement. While these measures affect immigrants broadly, lawyers and advocacy groups told KNKX, a public radio station, that spouses of US citizens—who have historically enjoyed special protections under immigration law—are now being subjected to the same enforcement approach as other immigrants. Advocacy groups report growing distress Ashley DeAzevedo, executive director of American Families United, reportedly told the outlet that Americans with foreign-born spouses are facing unprecedented challenges. "Life has become a lot more difficult for Americans who are married to somebody who is not born in this country." According to DeAzevedo, the advocacy group's membership has grown sharply over the past year as policy changes have affected more families. She said the organization now supports about 1.4 million people inside the US and 300,000 outside the country, including people who have left the US and those seeking to enter.
She also said some families have chosen to leave the country voluntarily. "We saw so many of our members make the decision to self-deport, to leave the country for fear of this indefinite detention," DeAzevedo told the news outlet. She added that the detention of spouses of US citizens was previously uncommon because immigration authorities generally prioritized other categories for enforcement. American Families United is an organization which advocates for US citizen spouses and immediate family members of those engaged in various immigration processes. Why spouses of US citizens are treated differently under the law Sharvari Dalal-Dheini, senior director of government relations at the American Immigration Lawyers Association, told KNKX that US immigration law has traditionally given spouses of American citizens unique advantages. Unlike many other immigrants, they are generally exempt from annual visa caps and have greater flexibility in adjusting their immigration status. "This group of individuals have always had a special place under the law," Dalal-Dheini was quoted as saying. However, she said the current administration is no longer treating them as a distinct category. "But this administration is treating them like all other immigrants." Dalal-Dheini also noted that applicants are now facing additional scrutiny during the immigration process even though they have always undergone background checks. What is the administration's response? US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) spokesman Zach Kahler, according to the report, defended the stricter vetting process. He reportedly told the news outlet that said applications for immigration benefits require rigorous identity and background verification that prioritizes public safety.
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