The Trump administration is not limiting its immigration crackdown to undocumented immigrants alone. New policies are increasingly affecting people who are trying to immigrate legally through family petitions, employment-based visas, Diversity Visas, refugee programs, adjustment of status, and other lawful immigration pathways. A recent Forbes report [source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/stuartanderson/2026/08/17/trump-officials-now-restricting-all-legal-immigration-categories/?fbclid=IwY2xjawTxYx5wZG9mBWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR5ZeDihz4_i0qaX2I_8-WuqnJBmzq0PoDGfjv_OXWripJ70jsrWOEdkJYkeCw_aem_MANiTp5czitt-ppKwDNaRA] describes the administration’s approach as an effort that is now restricting virtually every major category of legal immigration.
According to Forbes, analysts with the National Foundation for American Policy estimate that current policies could reduce legal immigration to the United States by approximately 33% to 50% during President Trump’s four-year term, potentially affecting between 1.5 million and 2.4 million prospective legal immigrants. These restrictions do not affect only immigrants themselves. They also affect U.S. citizens trying to sponsor spouses, parents and children, as well as American employers attempting to hire needed foreign workers.
One of the most significant restrictions involves immigrant visa processing abroad. The State Department has paused immigrant visa issuance for nationals of 75 countries, including Ukraine’s neighboring and former Soviet countries such as Russia, Belarus, Moldova, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, as well as many countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. Applicants may still be able to submit applications and attend interviews, but visa issuance remains paused for affected nationals subject to limited exceptions. Separately, Presidential Proclamation 10998 fully or partially restricts immigrant or nonimmigrant visa issuance for nationals of 39 countries.
Other legal immigration programs are also facing major obstacles. Forbes reports that the administration has stopped issuance of approximately 55,000 Diversity Visas, while litigation challenging the policy continues. That is especially serious because DV-2026 winners generally must receive their immigrant visas or adjustment of status approvals by September 30, 2026, or lose eligibility based on their DV-2026 selection. Refugee admissions have also been sharply restricted, while several federal lawsuits are challenging government freezes and holds affecting lawful immigration applications.
Family-based immigration and adjustment of status are becoming more difficult as well. USCIS rescinded the 2022 public-charge regulation in July 2026, with the new rule scheduled to take effect on September 18, 2026. The change gives immigration officers greater discretion when determining whether an intending immigrant may become a public charge. At the same time, employment-based immigrants face potential changes involving prevailing wages, PERM labor certification requirements, visa availability, and increased scrutiny of petitions and applications. Forbes warns that these combined measures demonstrate that the current immigration crackdown reaches far beyond unlawful immigration and increasingly affects people attempting to follow the legal immigration system.
If you are in the United States without permanent status, have a pending immigration case, are waiting for an immigrant visa abroad, or have a family member you want to sponsor, now is the time to understand your options. Immigration policies are changing rapidly, and waiting can sometimes eliminate options that are available today. Call Shepelsky Law Group at Tel: (718)769-6352 to schedule an immigration consultation.
Our immigration attorneys can review your history, determine whether you have a path to legalize your immigration status, and help you pursue the strongest available option for a visa, Green Card, humanitarian protection, or other lawful status in the United States.