Changes to US Permanent Residency Rules Regarding Political Views

Apr 26, 2026, 16:47

Introduction

The United States government has introduced new guidelines for the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). These rules expand the reasons why green card applications can be denied, specifically by checking applicants' social media activity and their political connections.

Main Body

In March, the Department of Homeland Security provided training to USCIS officers based on a directive from August 2025. This directive requires officers to screen applicants for 'anti-American' and 'anti-Semitic' views. Certain behaviors are now seen as very negative factors, such as supporting terrorism, promoting the overthrow of the US government, or sharing specific social media content. For example, posts calling for an end to 'Israeli Terror in Palestine' or images that cross out the Israeli flag may lead to a denial. Furthermore, these rules apply to physical actions. Participating in pro-Palestinian campus protests after the 2023 Hamas attacks or damaging the American flag can now be grounds for rejection. In the past, USCIS focused mainly on speech that encouraged violence to protect free speech rights. However, the current administration has changed this approach. As a result, immigration officers must now send cases involving potential anti-American or antisemitic behavior to senior managers for further review. Historically, green card decisions were based on criminal records and national security threats. However, recent data shows that green card approvals have dropped by more than 50% in recent months. Additionally, the USCIS is reviewing previously approved cases to cancel residency for people who do not meet these new standards. While the White House claims these policies protect national security and are not about free speech, critics argue that the government is confusing political disagreement with the Israeli government with antisemitism.

Conclusion

The US government has moved toward a much stricter ideological screening process for permanent residency. This has led to a sharp decrease in green card approvals and the review of existing legal statuses.

Vocabulary Learning

directive (n.)
official instruction / a formal order issued by an authority指示；指令
Example:The department issued a new directive to improve security measures at the border.
grounds (n.)
reasons / a reason, cause, or argument for an action or belief理由；根據
Example:The lawyer argued that there were no legal grounds for the application to be denied.
ideological (adj.)
belief-based / relating to a system of ideas and ideals, especially one that forms the basis of economic or political theory意識形態的
Example:The two parties have deep ideological differences regarding how the country should be governed.
potential (adj.)
possible / possible when the necessary conditions exist潛在的；可能的
Example:The new policy aims to identify potential security risks before they become a problem.
screen (v.)
examine / to test or examine someone or something to discover if there is anything wrong or unsuitable審查；篩選
Example:The agency will screen all applicants to ensure they meet the residency requirements.

Sentence Learning

These rules expand the reasons why green card applications can be denied, specifically by checking applicants' social media activity and their political connections.
Relative Clause: This clause uses 'why' to provide specific details about the 'reasons' mentioned earlier.關係子句：此子句使用「why」為前文提到的「原因」提供具體細節。
Certain behaviors are now seen as very negative factors, such as supporting terrorism, promoting the overthrow of the US government, or sharing specific social media content.
Passive Voice: The passive voice 'are seen as' is used to describe how behaviors are perceived by the authorities in a formal reporting context.被動語態：使用被動語態「are seen as」以正式語氣描述當局如何看待某些行為。
As a result, immigration officers must now send cases involving potential anti-American or antisemitic behavior to senior managers for further review.
Linking Word - Result: The phrase 'As a result' connects a previous policy change to its direct consequence for immigration officers.連接詞 - 結果：短語「As a result」將先前的政策轉變與其對移民官員產生的直接後果聯繫起來。
Additionally, the USCIS is reviewing previously approved cases to cancel residency for people who do not meet these new standards.
Relative Clause: The relative pronoun 'who' introduces a clause that defines exactly which group of people is being targeted for residency cancellation.關係子句：關係代名詞「who」引導一個子句，明確界定了哪些人的居留權會被取消。
While the White House claims these policies protect national security and are not about free speech, critics argue that the government is confusing political disagreement with the Israeli government with antisemitism.
Linking Word - Contrast: The conjunction 'While' is used to present two opposing viewpoints within a single sentence, highlighting the conflict between the government and its critics.連接詞 - 對比：連接詞「While」用於在同一個句子中呈現兩個對立的觀點，突顯政府與批評者之間的矛盾。