USCIS Naturalization Policy Updates
Earlier this month, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced several key policy changes that affect immigrants applying for naturalization and adjustment of status, along with a new development in the agency’s public messaging.
First, the agency made an amendment to the rules for people applying for a disability exception to the citizenship test. Applicants using Form N-648 to ask to skip the English or civics test because of a medical condition will now need to submit that form at the same time as their naturalization application (Form N-400).
This rule took effect on June 13, 2025. Previously, applicants had more flexibility about when to file. Now, USCIS will only accept a late Form N-648 if there are truly exceptional circumstances. Agency representatives have also said that they’ll take a closer look at cases where someone submits more than one N-648, so it’s important to make sure everything is correct the first time.
There’s also a new rule for those applying for a green card. If you’re filing Form I-485 (Adjustment of Status) and need a medical exam (Form I-693), the updated guidance says that the exam is only valid for the specific I-485 application you file it with.
This means that if your application is denied, withdrawn, or rejected for any reason, you’ll need to get a new medical exam before refiling. This change went into effect on June 11, 2025, and it applies to any Form I-693 signed on or after November 1, 2023.
In addition to these form updates, USCIS also released a new video message from President Trump that will now play at naturalization ceremonies across the country. In the video, he tells new citizens that U.S. citizenship is a “sacred honor” and encourages them to “fiercely guard” the American way of life.
These changes show that USCIS is putting more attention on ensuring that applications are complete, accurate, and timely. If you’re applying for a green card or citizenship, make sure to double-check which forms are required and when they must be submitted. When in doubt, speaking with an immigration lawyer or accredited representative can help you stay on track.
Judge Orders ORR to Revisit Sponsor Rules for Migrant Children
On June 9, 2025, a federal judge ordered the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) to reevaluate how it handles sponsorship requests for unaccompanied migrant children.
Over the past year, ORR has been applying stricter rules that made it harder for relatives (especially undocumented family members) to sponsor children out of shelters. These rules included new demands like DNA testing, U.S.-issued identification, and extensive income documentation, even in cases where that wasn’t previously required.
The court ruled that these changes were rolled out without proper public notice and have led to unnecessary delays in reunifying children with their families. The judge stated that while the government has the authority to vet sponsors, it must also consider the best interests of the child.
ORR is now required to review cases affected by the new policies and make adjustments, a move that could help reduce the backlog of children waiting in federal custody to be placed with relatives.
Court Finds Government Violated Ms. L's Family Separation Agreement
A federal judge in California issued a ruling on June 10 saying that the government had violated the terms of the Ms. L v. ICE settlement, a court order that protects families from being separated during immigration proceedings.
The case originally stemmed from the 2018 Trump administration’s “zero tolerance” policy, which resulted in thousands of family separations at the border. The settlement requires the government to provide notice, legal access, and procedures that protect families from being separated unnecessarily.
According to the court, the government recently separated several children from their parents without following the required protocols. In some cases, parents were deported while children remained in custody without proper justification or oversight.
Judge Dana Sabraw ordered the government to resume compliance with the agreement immediately and to restore services and safeguards designed to prevent such separations from happening again.
Advocates hailed the ruling as a reminder that the protections negotiated in past legal battles still carry force today — and that the government must be held accountable for following them.
New Travel Ban Blocks Visas from 12 Countries
On June 9, President Trump signed a new executive order restricting visa access for nationals from 12 countries, citing national security concerns. The proclamation affects both family and employment-based visa categories, as well as some visitor visas.
The ban fully restricts nationals from the following countries from entering the United States:
- Afghanistan
- Myanmar
- Chad
- The Republic of Congo
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Haiti
- Iran
- Libya
- Somalia
- Sudan
- Yemen
It also partially restricts the entry of nationals from:
- Burundi
- Cuba
- Laos
- Sierra Leone
- Togo
- Turkmenistan
- Venezuela
This new ban builds on earlier restrictions and expands the administration’s authority to limit entry based on perceived foreign threats. Immigration advocates warn that these blanket bans disproportionately affect families trying to reunite legally, including U.S. citizens sponsoring spouses, children, or parents.
While waivers are available in theory, they’re rarely granted in practice. The travel ban is expected to face legal challenges, but it remains in effect for now, leaving many families in limbo while their petitions are stalled.
Lawmakers Reintroduce American Families United Act
In a rare bipartisan move, lawmakers reintroduced the American Families United Act in Congress in early June 2025.
The bill would give immigration judges more flexibility in cases where U.S. citizens are facing family separation due to a loved one’s immigration status. If passed, it would allow judges to consider “extreme hardship” to a U.S. citizen, such as a spouse or child, when deciding whether to waive certain grounds for inadmissibility or deportation.
The legislation is designed to help mixed-status families, especially those in which the noncitizen partner might otherwise be barred from adjusting their status due to technical violations or prior unauthorized presence. Immigration attorneys say the bill, if passed, could help thousands of families who currently have no legal path forward.
Similar versions of the bill have been introduced in the past but failed to gain traction. Supporters hope that the growing number of families affected by rigid immigration rules will make this year different.
