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INTERNATIONAL AND NATIONAL :::: CARIBBEAN AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH
The Trump administration has directed that any migrant seeking to get a green card must return to their home country to apply, effectively closing a loop- hole that allows migrants to re- main in the United States while awaiting permanent residency. On Friday, May 22, U.S. Citi- zenship and Immigration Ser- vices (USCIS) announced new guidance directing immigration officers to treat the transition from temporary nonimmigrant status to permanent immigrant status under Section 245(a) of the Immigration and National- ity Act as a process that should generally take place outside the United States.
Under the guidance, individ- uals seeking lawful permanent residency would typically be re- quired to return to their home country, complete screening procedures and obtain an im-
GREENCARD LOOPHOLE migrant visa through the U.S. Department of State before re- entering the U.S. as immigrants. USCIS Director Joseph Edlow emphasized the Trump admin- istration is reinforcing the dis- tinction between temporary en- try and permanent residence in ment of status process domesti- cally in "extraordinary circum- stances," with vetting conducted by USCIS officers rather than through the standard immigrant visa process abroad. The agency instructs immigration officers to weigh all relevant factors on a case-by-case basis when deter- mining whether someone quali- fies for this type of administra- tive relief.
Announcing the new guide- line on X, Homeland Security wrote: "An alien who is in the U.S. temporarily and wants a Green Card must return to their home country to apply. "This policy allows our immigration system to function as the law in- tended instead of incentivizing a statement.
"Under President Trump, US- CIS is returning to the original intent of the law and reinforcing the proper distinction between temporary admission and per- manent residence. Aliens who come to the United States temporarily and later seek perma- nent residency should pursue an immigrant visa through the proper channels in their home countries before being admitted as immigrants."
The document further states that individuals should only be loopholes. The era of abusing our nation's immigration system is over."
allowed to remain in the United States and complete the adjust-
CARIBBEAN NEWS BRIEFS Caribbean Regional News Roundup: Storms, Security, and Social Progress Shape the Headlines
U.S.-Cuba Tensions: The United States has significantly increased military pressure around Cuba, deploying aircraft carriers, destroyers, and amphibious groups into the Caribbe- an. The buildup comes amid U.S. efforts to choke off oil sup- plies, leading to widespread power outages and civilian suffer- ing on the island.
• Caribbean Response: The Caribbean Community (CAR- ICOM) has formally condemned U.S. threats and actions against Cuba.
• Counter-Narcotics Operations: The U.S. military has es- calated lethal strikes and interceptions on alleged drug-smug- gling boats in the Caribbean, raising safety concerns for local fishermen operating in the region.
• Western Caribbean Disturbance: A tropical disturbance is moving across the western Caribbean, bringing heavy rainfall and possible flooding to Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, Cuba, and the Bahamas.
• Sahara Dust: A massive plume of Saharan dust is sweeping across the Eastern Caribbean, bringing hazy skies and stifling hot temperatures to the Lesser Antilles and the Bahamas.
• Travel Advisories: The U.S. State Department maintains a Level 4 (Do Not Travel) advisory for Haiti due to ongoing turmoil, and a severe advisory for Trinidad and Tobago. Con- versely, popular tourist destinations like the Cayman Islands are sitting at a Level 1 advisory ("exercise normal precautions"). • Cruise Operations: Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas recently had to cancel a stop in Falmouth, Jamaica, and divert to Nassau due to a propulsion issue. Meanwhile, the Carni- val Magic returned to service from Miami following extensive dry-dock upgrades in the Bahamas.
Caribbean Times | June 4-17, 2026 caribbeantimes.com