DEVELOPMENTS IN IMMIGRATION POLICY THIS WEEK
Here, we summarize some of the most important recent developments in immigration policy on the federal, legal, state, and local levels.
Federal
DHS Proposes Reinstatement of Public Charge Rule
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has introduced a proposed rule that would reinstate and expand the "public charge" policy of the first Trump administration, rolling back protections from the 2022 Biden administration rule. If finalized, the measure would allow immigration officers to deny green cards and other legal status to applicants who have used, or may use, public benefits such as SNAP, Medicaid, CHIP, housing assistance, and state-funded social programs, even for short periods or limited amounts. Advocacy organizations and health policy experts warn the proposal is intentionally vague, designed to create confusion and deter lawfully present immigrants from accessing critical health and nutrition programs they qualify for under federal law.
Unlike prior rules, the new DHS plan lacks clear guidance for adjudicators and instead grants officers wide discretion to deem applicants "likely" to become a public charge based on past or potential benefit use, as well as on the use of benefits by household members. DHS suggests that one of the benefits of the rule would be "a reduction in the number of aliens dependent on public benefit programs" and notes that it will result in reduced federal and state payments for individuals who no longer enroll in such programs, including U.S. citizens in mixed status households. Advocates highlight evidence that similar changes led to a dramatic chilling effect during the pandemic, with immigrant families, including U.S. citizen children, skipping medical care, nutrition assistance, or housing support out of fear for their immigration status. The agency is accepting public comments, and the Biden-era public charge rule remains in effect until any new regulation is finalized.
Administration Considers Green Card Restrictions for Travel Ban Countries
The Trump administration is reportedly weighing new policy changes to deny green cards to immigrants from countries covered by the president’s June 2025 travel ban. The proposed guidance would treat nationality from a travel ban country as a "significant negative factor" in green card adjudications, further compounding the widespread visa and entry restrictions that have already impacted millions of people. The list of fully and partially banned countries currently includes Afghanistan, Iran, Libya, Syria, Yemen, Somalia, Sudan, Haiti, Myanmar, Chad, and others under either a total or partial visa suspension.
Past green card denials were largely based on admissibility grounds such as criminal history, health, or use of certain public benefits. Under the draft policy, consular officers and immigration officials could deny applicants solely for being from a travel ban country, even absent individual disqualifying factors. Immigrant rights groups have signaled plans to challenge any new restrictions in court. Advocates have raised particular alarm about the impact of the proposed green card restrictions on Afghans. Many of the tens of thousands of Afghans evacuated after the 2021 fall of Kabul are living in the United States under temporary humanitarian parole or other short-term protections, with no pathway to permanent residency. The administration’s new policy would potentially bar even those already present in the U.S. from securing lawful permanent residence, separating families, and undermining commitments made to American allies.
Border Patrol Operations Planned for New York City and New Orleans
Federal officials have announced plans for ramped-up immigration enforcement in New York City and New Orleans, with major operations slated to begin in December in response to what the administration calls "public safety threats" and sanctuary city policies. According to Tom Homan, the White House’s border czar, enforcement teams are already active in New York and additional agents are preparing to conduct widespread raids at courthouses, transit hubs, and immigrant neighborhoods. In New Orleans, up to 250 Border Patrol agents are expected to deploy for a two-month campaign, while local advocates and officials brace for a sharp increase in arrests targeting individuals with prior removal orders, asylum lapses, and minor immigration violations.
Meanwhile, Charlotte, North Carolina has experienced days of uncertainty and disruption stemming from the "Charlotte’s Web" enforcement operation led by Border Patrol official Gregory Bovino. Local authorities initially declared the operation over, but the Department of Homeland Security quickly contradicted those statements, asserting the crackdown is "not ending anytime soon" and confirming that immigration enforcement remains active in Charlotte and Raleigh. Over five days, federal actions resulted in more than 370 arrests and citywide impacts, with businesses shuttered, construction sites left empty, and nearly 30,000 students absent from local schools.
Survey Shows Decline in New International Student Enrollment
New survey data show that U.S. colleges and universities saw a 17% decline in new international student enrollment this fall, the largest non-pandemic drop in more than a decade. While total international student headcount fell by 1%, first-year international students saw pronounced decreases, hitting public universities hardest. Graduate programs, which typically rely heavily on international students for tuition and research contributions, reported a 12% drop in new enrollments, intensifying financial pressures for campuses dependent on international revenue streams.
Analysts and university leaders attribute the contraction to recent federal visa and travel policies, ongoing administrative review delays, and a sense that the U.S. is less welcoming to prospective international students. The economic consequences are significant, with estimates of more than $1.1 billion in lost revenue and up to 23,000 fewer jobs supported by international enrollment across the country. Many institutions are urging prompt federal action to address visa backlogs and to protect student and graduate work programs, warning that continued declines could undermine educational, economic, and diplomatic interests long term.
Priority Visa Interviews Announced for Foreign World Cup Ticket Holders
On November 17, the Trump Administration and FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced a new visa system for ticket holders to 2026 World Cup games in the United States. The system entitled the "FIFA Pass," allows ticket holders to receive priority interview times to obtain a U.S. visa to attend a World Cup game. The partnership between the U.S. Department of State, the White House’s FIFA World Cup 2026 Task Force (established in March 2025 via executive order) and FIFA will see the hiring of an additional 400 consular officers to process visas. Infantino stated that between five and ten million people from over 200 countries will be traveling to attend the games. The Trump administration has reiterated their commitment to the success of the games while also prioritizing maintaining a firm stance on security. Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that having a ticket does not guarantee a U.S. Visa and only allows for an expedited process to getting a visa appointment, while the vetting process remains the same.
Legal
Federal Judge Blocks Termination of Temporary Protected Status for Syrians
On November 19, a federal judge in New York blocked the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from terminating Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Syrians, granting an emergency reprieve for more than 6,100 TPS holders just days before their protections were set to expire. The court’s order followed legal challenges from advocacy groups who argued that ending TPS for Syrians would violate federal law and expose individuals to grave harm due to ongoing conflict in Syria. The judge cited the severe risks and devastating repercussions of terminating protections, noting that hundreds of families, students, doctors, and other professionals would lose lawful status and face possible deportation.
The ruling temporarily halts the Trump administration’s efforts to end TPS for Syrian nationals, preserving their ability to live and work legally in the United States while litigation continues. Advocates welcomed the decision as a lifeline for community members and a check against an abrupt policy change that would have forced people to return to a country still affected by war and instability. In October, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the administration to move forward with ending TPS for approximately 600,000 Venezuelan migrants, exposing them to the risk of losing their protections. Meanwhile, federal courts are still weighing legal challenges to the termination of TPS for nationals of Haiti, Honduras, Nepal, and Nicaragua.
Judge Dismisses DOJ Challenge to New York Courthouse Protections Law
A federal judge has dismissed the Department of Justice’s lawsuit challenging New York’s Protect Our Courts Act, which restricts federal immigration agents from making civil arrests at state courthouses without a judge-signed criminal warrant. The court concluded that New York acted within its authority to regulate courthouse safety and access, and that the state’s law does not conflict with federal immigration enforcement powers. Advocates and state officials argued that courthouse arrests deter witnesses and victims from participating in legal proceedings, undermining justice and due process.
Prior to 2025, federal guidance limited immigration enforcement in "sensitive locations" such as schools, medical facilities, courthouses, and other sites providing essential services. This long-standing policy was first established in 2011 and eventually expanded under the previous administration, aiming to ensure immigrants could safely access critical services without fear of enforcement actions. On the first day of the new Trump administration, the Department of Homeland Security rescinded these protections and encouraged enforcement wherever agents deemed necessary, including courthouses. The policy shift led to heightened fears and avoidance of essential services among immigrant communities, with reports of decreased school attendance and increased missed medical appointments.
Appeals Court Pauses Chicago Ruling Limiting Federal Agents’ Use of Force
A federal appeals court has temporarily blocked a order issued by a Chicago district judge that restricted federal immigration agents' use of force in the Chicago area. The judge's ruling on November 6 mandated agents to provide clear warnings before deploying tear gas, pepper balls, and other riot control weapons, prohibited the use of force against peaceful protesters and journalists, and required agents to wear clear identification and body cameras. The judge also required federal agencies to provide detailed records of use-of-force incidents in connection with recent protests and enforcement operations.
The appeals panel, responding to an emergency request from the Trump administration, found the judge's order "overbroad," stating that such detailed restrictions resembled federal regulation and encroached upon executive authority over law enforcement. The court’s stay is only temporary, noting that the district judge had assembled robust factual findings suggesting the need for a more tailored injunction, and warning parties not to "overread" the suspension as a final decision. The case remains pending as the judges weigh whether narrower limits on federal agents’ use of force in Chicago are required under First and Fourth Amendment claims raised by the plaintiffs.
BILLS INTRODUCED AND CONSIDERED
A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to establish a criminal penalty for obstructing immigration enforcement activities
Sponsored by Sen. Ashley Moody (R-FL) (0 cosponsors)
11/18/2025 Introduced by Sen. Moody
11/18/2025 Read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary
A bill to amend the National Labor Relations Act to make it an unfair labor practice to employ or represent an unauthorized alien, and for other purposes
Sponsored by Sen. Jim Banks (R-IN) (4 cosponsors)
11/19/2025 Introduced by Sen. Banks
11/19/2025 Read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to protect the well-being of soldiers and their families, and for other purposes
Sponsored by Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA) (0 cosponsors)
11/18/2025 Introduced by Rep. Thompson
11/18/2025 Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary
BARN Act
Sponsored by Rep. Rick W. Allen (R-GA) (0 cosponsors)
11/19/2025 Introduced by Rep. Allen
11/19/2025 Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary
To make constituent services available to detainees in immigration detention centers
Sponsored by Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) (2 cosponsors)
11/19/2025 Introduced by Rep. Lieu
11/19/2025 Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary
To protect collective self-determination and individual rights under Federal statutes conferring nationality on persons born and residing in the territory of American Samoa, to enable subsequent elective United States citizenship upon application of such persons residing in a State or in a territory subject to sections 301 through 308 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, and for other purposes
Sponsored by Del. Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen (R-AS) (0 cosponsors)
11/19/2025 Introduced by Del. Radewagen
11/19/2025 Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce
To provide for a limitation on the ability to issue any visa or provide any status under the immigration laws until certain conditions have been met
Sponsored by Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) (7 cosponsors)
11/20/2025 Introduced by Rep. Roy
11/20/2025 Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary
Criminal Alien Removal Clarification Act of 2025
Sponsored by Rep. Paul A. Gosar (R-AZ) (22 cosponsors)
11/17/2025 Introduced by Rep. Gosar
11/17/2025 Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary
To prohibit the use of Federal funds by non-governmental organizations and the Department of the Interior for certain immigration-related services, except in the case of a minor
Sponsored by Rep. Beth Van Duyne (R-TX) (0 cosponsors)
11/17/2025 Introduced by Rep. Van Duyne
11/17/2025 Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary
Condemning the recent attacks on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection Law Enforcement personnel and facilities
Sponsored by Rep. Jake Ellzey (R-TX) (0 cosponsors)
11/17/2025 Introduced by Rep. Ellzey
11/17/2025 Referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Ways and Means
SPOTLIGHT ON FORUM RESOURCES
The Forum is constantly publishing new policy-focused resources that engage with some of the most topical issues around immigration today. Here are a few that are particularly relevant this week:
This paper analyzes the unprecedented expansion of ICE detention spending under the second Trump administration, which increased more than 400% from approximately $3 billion in FY2024 to over $14 billion in FY2025.
This guide was developed to help you identify and engage your elected officials at both the federal and state level.
Our explainer details the new Gold Card program, which the Trump administration has promoted as a way to attract investment and strengthen the economy. We also explain how it raises fundamental questions about fairness and legality.
*As of publication (11/21/25 at 3:00PM EST)
This Bulletin is not intended to be comprehensive. Please contact Nicci Mattey, Senior Policy & Advocacy Associate at the Forum, with questions, comments, and suggestions for additional items to be included. Nicci can be reached at [email protected]. Thank you.
