The Trump administration has unveiled a sweeping new immigration rule that requires Green Card hopefuls to leave the United States while their application process is underway. The shift threatens to upend the lives of millions of people seeking lawful permanent residency.

Under the rule announced Friday, applicants must return to their home countries to apply for a permanent visa. According to a report by The New York Times, this abrupt change will affect a vast portion of the legal immigrant population, tearing families apart, disrupting employment, and causing turmoil across various communities.

The Green Card process is already notorious for its complexity, often spanning months or even years. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) stated that exemptions would be granted only under "extraordinary circumstances." Spokesperson Jack Kahler argued that the move would reduce the number of applicants who remain in the United States unlawfully after failing to secure residency.

"When foreign nationals apply from their home countries, it reduces the need to track down and deport individuals who choose to drop out of status and go underground," Kahler said.

Government data shows that nearly 1.4 million people obtained lawful permanent residency in the 2024 fiscal year. The new rule is expected to face legal challenges and has already drawn fierce criticism.

Representative Delia C. Ramirez labeled the policy the "height of cruelty," while New York Governor Kathy Hochul stated it "betrays the very promise upon which this nation was built."

Representative Greg Stanton warned that it would "deliberately" make legal immigration more difficult, undermining America’s ability to attract top talent. Representative Ted Lieu called it "nonsensical," arguing that it would benefit global competitors like China and Russia.

David J. Bier of the Cato Institute described the policy as "irrational," predicting that it would drive skilled workers overseas and weaken America's competitive edge.

The administration has already taken steps to limit legal immigration by curbing asylum applications, revoking Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for several nations, halting refugee admissions except for white South Africans, and placing restrictions on work and student visas.

Following an incident last year involving the shooting of two National Guard soldiers in Washington, D.C., officials have also begun re-examining Green Cards previously issued to citizens of 19 countries flagged as "concerns."