Weekly Immigration News Roundup: December 5
Shortly after the Thanksgiving holidays, the federal government made several changes to its immigration policy. This week, Manifest immigration attorney Ana Gabriela Urizar chimes in with her insights to some of this week’s top headlines.
Trump Travel Ban May be Expanded in 2025
The Trump administration may add dozens of new countries to the travel ban in the near future. No official list has come out yet, but earlier reports suggest that developing nations such as Egypt and Syria may be affected.
“If you fear that you may be affected by this policy, it is recommended that you make plans to return to the U.S. as soon as possible and that you speak to an immigration attorney to help you prepare,” Urizar says.
State Department Will Vet the Social Media Profiles of H-1B, H-4 Applicants
Starting December 15, H-1B and H-4 applicants going through consular processing will need to keep their social media profiles public so immigration officers can review their content.
Urizar says to “keep your social media profiles safe from inflammatory statements, keep them public, and avoid posting content that could be misinterpreted as going against the national interest of the U.S.”
USCIS Freezes Processing for 19 Countries
The federal agency has paused all asylum decisions and issued a hold for most immigration benefits for nationals of 19 “high-risk countries of concern.”
“Now’s the time to lawyer up,” Urizar says. “If your case has been frozen because you were born in one of the 19 listed countries, speak with an immigration attorney immediately to understand your risks and protect your options moving forward.”
USCIS Shortens Work Permits of Select Immigration Categories
Instead of lasting five years, the validity period of work permits for those who applied for asylum or other humanitarian immigration programs will now be shorter.
Trump Administration Considers Reopening Green Card Cases from “Countries of Concern”
The Trump administration and USCIS have issued a flurry of statements responding to the D.C. shooting that left one National Guard member dead and another critically injured. In a post on X, USCIS director Joseph Edlow suggested that the agency would allow immigration officers to re-examine Green Cards issued to people from “countries of concern.”
DHS Will End TPS for Haiti and Myanmar by Early 2026
These two countries are the latest to have their TPS designations revoked or scheduled for revocation by DHS. Other countries recently affected include Afghanistan, Syria, and Venezuela.
Trump Gold Card Visa Program Inches Ahead
USCIS has approved the new Form I-140G, which allows wealthy foreign nationals to apply for a Trump Gold Card for fast-tracked lawful permanent residence status. The final application form and official guidance aren’t available yet, but the draft petition gives a clearer picture of how Gold Card would work.
