During Donald $Trump’s presidency, his administration took several actions that effectively slowed down legal immigration to the U.S. USCIS increased scrutiny on applications, leading to more Requests for Evidence (RFEs) and higher denial rates, particularly for employment-based visas like H-1Bs. The administration also expanded the “public charge” rule, making it harder for immigrants to obtain green cards if they were deemed likely to use public benefits. Processing times slowed significantly due to new vetting procedures and the removal of certain expedited options. In 2020, Trump issued executive orders suspending various types of legal immigration, including green cards issued abroad and temporary work visas, citing economic concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic. Changes in adjudication standards resulted in more denials for visa applicants, further discouraging legal immigration. While there may not have been an explicit directive to “slow down” legal immigration, the combination of these policies and procedural changes effectively created significant delays and barriers.
