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USCIS Guidance Allows Green Card Denials for Pro-Palestinian Speech

4/26/2026

Summary

Story summary

The new guidance allows USCIS to deny green cards for political speech such as pro-Palestinian protests, criticism of Israel, and flag desecration.
In March, USCIS officers received training documents expanding the agency’s role in evaluating applicants’ political views.
A New York Times analysis shows green-card approvals have fallen by more than half in recent months.
The guidance tells officers to treat endorsements of anti-American or anti-Semitic groups as overwhelmingly negative.

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Story summary

The new guidance allows USCIS to deny green cards for political speech such as pro-Palestinian protests, criticism of Israel, and flag desecration.
In March, USCIS officers received training documents expanding the agency’s role in evaluating applicants’ political views.
A New York Times analysis shows green-card approvals have fallen by more than half in recent months.
The guidance tells officers to treat endorsements of anti-American or anti-Semitic groups as overwhelmingly negative.