Trump policy leaves marriage-based immigration applicants, spouses of US citizens in check: Report | Today’s news

The Trump administration’s immigration policies increasingly affect spouses of US citizens, a category that has traditionally received preferential treatment under US immigration law. According to the report, tougher enforcement measures, stricter vetting and broader deportation efforts have left many mixed-status families facing uncertainty, long delays and fears of detention.

what changed

Since President Donald Trump’s return to the White House, his administration has implemented a series of immigration measures aimed at slowing legal migration. These include suspending immigrant visas for people from 75 countries, increasing scrutiny at green card interviews and expanding deportation enforcement.

While the measures affect immigrants broadly, lawyers and advocacy groups told KNKX, a public radio station, that spouses of U.S. citizens — who have historically enjoyed special protections under immigration law — are now subject to the same enforcement approach as other immigrants.

Advocacy groups report growing anxiety

Ashley DeAzevedo, executive director of American Families United, reportedly told the newspaper that Americans with foreign-born spouses face unprecedented challenges.

“Life has become much more difficult for Americans who are married to someone who was not born in this country.”

According to DeAzevedo, the group’s membership has grown sharply over the past year as more families have been affected by policy changes. She said the organization now supports about 1.4 million people in the U.S. and 300,000 outside the country, including people who have left the U.S. and those who want to enter.

She also said that some families have decided to leave the country voluntarily.

“We’ve seen so many of our members choose to self-deport, to leave the country out of fear of this indefinite detention,” DeAzevedo told reporters.

She added that detaining spouses of US citizens was previously unusual because immigration authorities generally prioritized other categories for enforcement.

American Families United is an organization that advocates for spouses and immediate family members of those involved in various immigration processes.

Why are spouses of US citizens 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 provided spouses of US citizens with unique benefits.

Unlike many other immigrants, they are generally exempt from annual visa limits and have more flexibility in adjusting their immigration status.

“This group of individuals has always had a special status under the law,” Dalal-Dheini said.

But she said the current administration no longer considers them a separate category.

“But this administration treats them like any other immigrant.

Dalal-Dheini also noted that applicants now face additional scrutiny during the immigration process, even if they have always passed background checks.

What is the administration’s response?

US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) spokesman Zach Kahler advocated for a more rigorous screening process, according to the report.

He reportedly told the newspaper that applications for immigration benefits require strict identity and background checks that prioritize public safety.

Kahler also emphasized that being married to a U.S. citizen does not automatically protect someone from immigration enforcement.

“A pending or approved Form I-130 … does not confer any immigration status. All aliens are expected to comply with U.S. immigration laws,” Kahler said, according to KNKX.

He added that people who entered the country illegally or overstayed their visas continue to be deported.

Military families are also affected

According to KNKX, the administration’s travel restrictions do not exempt spouses of U.S. military personnel.

The woman, identified only as “Es,” whose husband serves in the U.S. military, told KNKX that delays in her citizenship application forced the family to postpone a planned move to Germany.

“We were actually supposed to leave in July, but we had to push it to October to see if we could get (my citizenship) done,” she said.

She said the uncertainty has complicated decisions about their home, travel and the future of their two children, who are U.S. citizens.

“He’s going to be thousands of miles away and he has to think about his job and he’s going to worry about us and that’s just not fair,” Es told KNKX.

Although a federal judge ruled that the suspension of citizenship processing was illegal, she said her application remains on hold.

“It doesn’t affect people who have done something wrong. It affects everyone.”

Longer delays and tougher interviews

KNKX reported that applicants are also experiencing delays at U.S. consulates and more extensive questioning during immigration interviews.

Dalal-Dheini said many spouses applying for permanent residence have lost legal status while waiting for their applications to be processed.

“And then they’re now subject to special scrutiny,” she told KNKX.

The report said USCIS officers were instructed to conduct multiple interviews and, in some cases, verify that applicants had returned to their home country to apply for a green card. Those who remain in the US during the process may face more detailed vetting.

According to KNKX, the administration also ordered financial institutions to review bank accounts belonging to people in the US without permanent legal status.

Lawyers warn that spouses remain legally vulnerable

California immigration attorney Eric Welsh told KNKX that marriage-based immigration does not guarantee permanent legal status.

Applicants are now expected to provide additional evidence as part of the green card process, including proof of “good moral character.”

“There is no absolute right to stay and there is no absolute right to adapt,” Welsh told KNKX.

He said many U.S. citizens incorrectly assume that marriage automatically protects a foreign-born spouse from deportation.

A chilling effect on families

According to KNKX, immigration lawyers and advocacy groups say the tougher enforcement environment is discouraging some families from filing immigration applications altogether.

DeAzevedo said many American families now fear exposing their spouses to detention or deportation by getting involved in the immigration system.