US green card applicants will now have to return to home countries to apply, DHS says

Key points

• Foreigners seeking to adjust their immigration status in the United States to secure green cards will have to do so from outside the country via the state department, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) said on Friday, in a move criticized by aid groups, policy analysts and immigration attorneys.
• USCIS announced the move in a policy memo, which directed officers to consider relevant factors and information on a case-by-case basis when determining whether extraordinary relief is warranted.
• The green card process had been unchanged for more than 60 years, marking the latest significant move by the Trump administration on immigration policy.
• “An alien who is in the US temporarily and wants a Green Card must return to their home country to apply,” said the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which has oversight of USCIS.
• “This policy allows our immigration system to function as the law intended instead of...