Latest news with #PolicyManual
Miami Herald
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Immigrant couples face new hurdles as USCIS tightens rules after Trump orders
In response to two executive orders signed by President Donald Trump on Jan. 20, his first day in office, the United States has imposed new requirements for another key immigration benefit. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a policy alert on Tuesday regarding this decision, which affects certain foreign nationals and their applications with the federal agency. According to USCIS, this is an 'update' to its Policy Manual, and the new measures took effect on March 3, 2025. They apply to 'requests pending or filed on or after that date.' USCIS changes rules on refugee and asylee marriages USCIS announced that it has updated its guidance in Volume 4 of the Policy Manual regarding valid marriages between a principal asylee or refugee and their claimed spouse. 'We are updating guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 4, on valid marriages between a principal asylee or principal refugee and their claimed spouse,' the agency stated. 'Under the updated guidance, all marriages between principal asylees or principal refugees and their claimed derivative spouses must be legally valid under the law of the jurisdiction where the marriage was celebrated in order to be considered valid for immigration benefit purposes.' Only marriages that meet these conditions will be recognized for immigration benefits such as a spousal petition. Applicants must still submit a separate Refugee/Asylee Relative Petition (Form I-730) for each eligible family member. In the case of spouses, USCIS officers are required to gather testimony and evaluate other relevant evidence to determine whether the relationship meets the criteria. 'The primary evidence for the petitioner's spouse is usually a marriage certificate issued by a civil authority in the country where the marriage occurred and, if applicable, proof of legal termination of previous marriages such as a divorce decree or death certificate,' USCIS stated. Read more: Major USCIS change after Trump's order: Key immigration form no longer accepted Trump's orders prompt USCIS policy changes USCIS confirmed that this policy change aligns with two immigration-related executive orders signed by Trump. 'This updated guidance is consistent with applicable Board of Immigration Appeals case law and other USCIS adjudications,' the agency said. 'It also aligns our policies with President Trump's Executive Order 14148, Initial Recissions of Harmful Executive Orders and Actions, and Executive Order 14163, Realigning the United States Refugee Admission Program.' Executive Order 14148 criticizes the previous Biden administration for having 'embedded deeply unpopular, inflationary, unlawful, and radical practices across all agencies and offices of the Federal Government.' It also revokes several Biden-era policies related to gender equality and LGBTQ+ protections. While USCIS did not specify whether the updated guidance on refugee and asylee marriages is directly linked to the rollback of those specific policies, the agency emphasized that the new guidance is controlling and 'supersedes any related prior guidance.' Executive Order 14163 highlights the 'burden' placed on federal institutions due to mass immigration under Biden's administration and calls for a 'realignment' of the refugee admissions system.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
US immigration will only recognize 2 genders going forward, ends Biden-era practice
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is ending the Biden-era practice of offering a third gender option on its forms, with a Homeland Security official declaring there "are only two sexes -- male and female." The agency announced Wednesday that it is "updating the USCIS Policy Manual to clarify that it only recognizes two biological sexes." "President Trump promised the American people a revolution of common sense, and that includes making sure that the policy of the U.S. government agrees with simple biological reality," Homeland Security Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement. "Proper management of our immigration system is a matter of national security, not a place to promote and coddle an ideology that permanently harms children and robs real women of their dignity, safety, and well-being," she added. Biden-appointed Judge Blocks Trump Administration From Terminating Legal Aid For Unaccompanied Migrant Children The agency said the policy change is being made following an executive order that President Donald Trump signed on the day of his inauguration, titled "Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government." Read On The Fox News App "Under this guidance, USCIS considers a person's sex as that which is generally evidenced on the birth certificate issued at or nearest to the time of birth," according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. "If the birth certificate issued at or nearest to the time of birth indicates a sex other than male or female, USCIS will base the determination of sex on secondary evidence." Cbp Releases March Border Crossing Numbers, Marking Lowest To Date Ever Recorded Last year, immigrants were able to select a third gender option, or "X," when applying for naturalization. "Historically, USCIS forms and associated documents have only offered two gender options: 'Male (M)' and 'Female (F).' This has created significant barriers for requestors who do not identify with either of those options," U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services said at the time. "Limiting benefit requestors to two gender options also creates administrative challenges for USCIS when we receive birth certificates or other official government-issued documents with a gender other than M or F." "Adding a third gender option helps ensure that secure identity documents and biographical data are accurate and helps both external stakeholders and individuals requesting immigration benefits. It is also consistent with federal and state agencies that have adopted a third gender option, such as the U.S. Department of State's expanded passport services to offer gender X in their application," it added. Fox News' Lindsay Kornick contributed to this report. Original article source: US immigration will only recognize 2 genders going forward, ends Biden-era practice
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
US immigration will only recognize 2 genders going forward, ends Biden-era practice
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is ending the Biden-era practice of offering a third gender option on its forms, with a Homeland Security official declaring there "are only two sexes -- male and female." The agency announced Wednesday that it is "updating the USCIS Policy Manual to clarify that it only recognizes two biological sexes." "President Trump promised the American people a revolution of common sense, and that includes making sure that the policy of the U.S. government agrees with simple biological reality," Homeland Security Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement. "Proper management of our immigration system is a matter of national security, not a place to promote and coddle an ideology that permanently harms children and robs real women of their dignity, safety, and well-being," she added. Biden-appointed Judge Blocks Trump Administration From Terminating Legal Aid For Unaccompanied Migrant Children The agency said the policy change is being made following an executive order that President Donald Trump signed on the day of his inauguration, titled "Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government." Read On The Fox News App "Under this guidance, USCIS considers a person's sex as that which is generally evidenced on the birth certificate issued at or nearest to the time of birth," according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. "If the birth certificate issued at or nearest to the time of birth indicates a sex other than male or female, USCIS will base the determination of sex on secondary evidence." Cbp Releases March Border Crossing Numbers, Marking Lowest To Date Ever Recorded Last year, immigrants were able to select a third gender option, or "X," when applying for naturalization. "Historically, USCIS forms and associated documents have only offered two gender options: 'Male (M)' and 'Female (F).' This has created significant barriers for requestors who do not identify with either of those options," U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services said at the time. "Limiting benefit requestors to two gender options also creates administrative challenges for USCIS when we receive birth certificates or other official government-issued documents with a gender other than M or F." "Adding a third gender option helps ensure that secure identity documents and biographical data are accurate and helps both external stakeholders and individuals requesting immigration benefits. It is also consistent with federal and state agencies that have adopted a third gender option, such as the U.S. Department of State's expanded passport services to offer gender X in their application," it added. Fox News' Lindsay Kornick contributed to this report. Original article source: US immigration will only recognize 2 genders going forward, ends Biden-era practice
Fox News
02-04-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
US immigration will only recognize 2 genders going forward, ends Biden-era practice
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is ending the Biden-era practice of offering a third gender option on its forms, with a Homeland Security official declaring there "are only two sexes -- male and female." The agency announced Wednesday that it is "updating the USCIS Policy Manual to clarify that it only recognizes two biological sexes." "President Trump promised the American people a revolution of common sense, and that includes making sure that the policy of the U.S. government agrees with simple biological reality," Homeland Security Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement. "Proper management of our immigration system is a matter of national security, not a place to promote and coddle an ideology that permanently harms children and robs real women of their dignity, safety, and well-being," she added. The agency said the policy change is being made following an executive order that President Donald Trump signed on the day of his inauguration, titled "Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government." "Under this guidance, USCIS considers a person's sex as that which is generally evidenced on the birth certificate issued at or nearest to the time of birth," according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. "If the birth certificate issued at or nearest to the time of birth indicates a sex other than male or female, USCIS will base the determination of sex on secondary evidence." Last year, immigrants were able to select a third gender option, or "X," when applying for naturalization. "Historically, USCIS forms and associated documents have only offered two gender options: 'Male (M)' and 'Female (F).' This has created significant barriers for requestors who do not identify with either of those options," U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services said at the time. "Limiting benefit requestors to two gender options also creates administrative challenges for USCIS when we receive birth certificates or other official government-issued documents with a gender other than M or F." "Adding a third gender option helps ensure that secure identity documents and biographical data are accurate and helps both external stakeholders and individuals requesting immigration benefits. It is also consistent with federal and state agencies that have adopted a third gender option, such as the U.S. Department of State's expanded passport services to offer gender X in their application," it added.
