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First readWhat to know+
Topic: New immigration rule for green card applicationsImpact: Thousands of Houston residents affectedChallenge: Must return home to apply or risk deportationCourt Effect: Will create years-long delays in Houston immigration courts
Next rungHow to step in+
Good first step: Act Contact Houston immigration attorney if affected
Houston Immigration Legal Services Collaborative for resources and referrals
A new federal policy now requires most immigrants seeking green cards to return to their home countries to apply, rather than doing so from inside the United States. Houston immigration attorneys say this creates serious barriers for thousands of local residents who are already following the legal path to permanent residency. If you or someone you know may be affected, getting legal advice quickly is the most important step you can take.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) — the federal agency that handles green card applications — issued a policy memo requiring immigrants inside the United States to return to their home countries to apply for permanent residency, except in what the agency calls 'extraordinary circumstances.' This process is formally known as 'adjustment of status,' and more than 600,000 people go through it each year. The policy does not appear to include exemptions for people who helped U.S. forces in Afghanistan or Iraq, or for asylum seekers who could face danger if they return home.
If you think this policy might affect you or someone in your family, the most important thing you can do right now is talk to a licensed immigration attorney. Laws and policy memos can be challenged in court, and an attorney can help you understand what options you still have. The Houston Immigration Legal Services Collaborative connects people with legal resources and referrals. Do not assume your case is hopeless — the legal landscape is changing quickly, and professional guidance matters.
No fixed date
Not location-specific
This policy change touches many parts of Houston life — from local workplaces to families to the immigration courts that serve our region. Houston immigration attorneys Ali Zakaria and Gordon Quan have both spoken publicly about the expected strain on the court system and the real human cost for their clients. Nonprofit groups like AfghanEvac are also raising concerns about what this means for Afghan allies brought to the U.S. after the fall of Kabul in 2021. The Houston Immigration Legal Services Collaborative remains a key local resource for connecting residents with legal guidance.
This policy shift affects hundreds of thousands of people across the country each year, including many Houston residents who are legally present and working toward permanent residency. For some, leaving the United States to apply abroad could mean losing jobs, being separated from family, or returning to dangerous conditions in their home country. For immigrants from nearly 40 countries where the U.S. has suspended consular services, there may be no clear path at all — they cannot apply here or abroad. Houston immigration courts are already expected to face years-long backlogs as a result.
