Story perspectives

Trump Memo Forces Green-Card Holders Out, Faces Lawsuit

6/6/2026

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Summary

Story summary

U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration issued a memo forcing green-card applicants to leave United States, applying abroad.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) chief Lynden Melmed warned guidance is burdensome and could slow immigration.
California got 112,100 green cards in 2023, one-fifth of U.S. adjustments.
Attorney General Rob Bonta argues the memo violates law and should be litigated.
Immigration attorneys report officers are questioning applicants about consular processing, suggesting risk.

History

Historical Context

Congress passed the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act in 1996, signed by President Bill Clinton and effective April 1 1997, expanding expedited removal and raising annual deportations from about 50,000 to over 180,000. In 2024, a Trump-issued memo again barred overseas green-card applicants, prompting USCIS chief Lynden Melmed’s warning and California Attorney General Rob Bonta’s lawsuit.

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Story summary

U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration issued a memo forcing green-card applicants to leave United States, applying abroad.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) chief Lynden Melmed warned guidance is burdensome and could slow immigration.
California got 112,100 green cards in 2023, one-fifth of U.S. adjustments.
Attorney General Rob Bonta argues the memo violates law and should be litigated.
Immigration attorneys report officers are questioning applicants about consular processing, suggesting risk.

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