LOS ANGELES:- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has taken a step back from a memo released on May 21 that said immigrants awaiting a green card application should return to their home countries until a decision is made on their applications. Amid fierce opposition to the memo and preparations for a legal battle, Homeland Security has clarified that there is no major change in policy and that only certain people should return home.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued a public memo clarifying that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is clarifying that only certain people who are eligible for green card status will be deported.
The policy guidance, issued on May 21, required most temporary visa holders living in the United States to return to their home countries to apply for and complete their green card applications. The new guidance, presented as a blanket policy, was said to affect any foreign nationals who had applied for and were waiting to apply for a green card from within the United States.
But on Friday, Homeland Security said the new policy would force only some foreigners who are not eligible for “discretionary benefits” to apply through embassies abroad instead of applying to USCIS in the US. The policy would not prevent any foreign national who is “lawfully and properly qualified” from obtaining a green card, Homeland Security said.
Homeland Security said that this will not affect people who already have green cards and that they can continue to live and travel freely in the United States. Homeland Security also said that this rule will not apply to everyone equally. The department said that the final decision on whether to send an applicant abroad for a green card remains with immigration officials.
A Homeland Security spokesperson said this was simply a reminder to officials of their discretionary powers, and that such a system already exists on a case-by-case basis. According to Homeland Security, citizens of countries that overstay their visas and use government benefits heavily may be most affected.
Although the government has tried to describe this as a simple internal amendment, the confusion and fear among immigrants and legal professionals has not disappeared. The details of which situations will be affected have not yet been made public. Experts say that it is clear that the government is trying to correct its own mess after strong public opposition.
