The Department of Homeland Security is pausing immigration applications from 20 additional countries following increased scrutiny on people who seek legal pathways for immigrating to the U.S.

Major U.S. immigration policy changes in 2025 include Trump administration H-1B visa overhaul, expanded facial recognition and social media scrutiny.

Federal agencies have stepped up scrutiny of H-1B petitions through expanded audits, site visits, and more frequent requests for evidence, slowing approvals and raising denial rates even for renewals and long-established roles, according to immigration attorneys.

The Trump administration is deploying around 2,000 federal agents to Minneapolis as part of an immigration crackdown on the heels of a welfare fraud scandal in Minnesota, according to two law enforcement officials.

Individuals from seven countries will not be able to travel to the United States starting Thursday, according to updated CBP guidance.

Major U.S. immigration policy changes in 2025 reshape visas, biometrics, work permits, citizenship tests, and security screening.