Key Highlights
- Venezuelan TPS Program Officially Terminated
- Pentagon Deploys 600 Military Lawyers as Immigration Judges
- Historic Immigration Raid at Hyundai Plant
- EB-2 Visa Cap Creates Major Delays
- USCIS Gains New Law Enforcement Powers
- New Visa Interview Location Requirements
- Looking Ahead: What These Changes Mean
- Conclusion
The first week of September 2025 has been a very transformative moment in the US immigration policy, with the Trump administration enacting drastic reforms that impact thousands of immigrants in the country. Since the termination of Temporary Protected Status programs to the introduction of military personnel as immigration judges, all these changes are a major turning point in the immigration situation of America.
Venezuelan TPS Program Officially Terminated
The US immigration news September 2025 headlines are dominated by the ending of the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) of Venezuela, which officially expires on September 10, 2025. That ruling covers around 270,000 Victorians who have lawfully lived and worked in the United States since 2021.
The termination was announced by the Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, who wrote that letting Venezuelan nationals continue temporarily residing in the United States was not in the best interest of America. The administration used the example of Venezuela as a contributor to irregular migration and the magnet effect of TPS as the main reasons to come to the decision.
TPS Venezuela Termination Details
It is being suggested that the Venezuelan nationals should self-deport through the CBP Home app, which guarantees them a free plane ticket, an exit bonus of $1,000, and a possible chance of future legal immigration. The individuals who have no alternative legal status are subject to potential deportation after the expiration of their work authorisation.
|
Aspect |
Information |
|
TPS Program |
Started in 2021 |
|
Number of Beneficiaries |
~270,000 Venezuelans |
|
Expiry Date |
September 10, 2025 |
|
Post-TPS Work Authorisation |
EADs will no longer be valid |
|
Self-Deport Incentives |
$1,000 and free flight via CBP app |
|
Risk After Expiry |
Possible removal if no other legal status |
Also Read: US Military Deports Migrants to India: A New Chapter in Immigration Policy
Pentagon Deploys 600 Military Lawyers as Immigration Judges
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has given the green light to deploy as many as 600 military lawyers to work as interim immigration judges in an unprecedented step to deal with a huge backlog of immigration court cases. This ruling arrives when the immigration court system is experiencing a 3.5-million-case backlog.
The military lawyers' immigration judges program will be initiated with groups of 150 attorneys that will rotate in 179-day terms, effectively doubling the existing immigration judge corps. By next week, military branches are supposed to be able to select initial candidates, though about two weeks of training is to be provided.
The opposition claims that military lawyers are not experts in the field of immigration law and cautions that this compromises due process. The Justice Department recently eased its temporary immigration judge requirements, eliminating the requirement of previous immigration experience.
Historic Immigration Raid at Hyundai Plant
The biggest single-site immigration raid in the history of the United States was carried out by federal agents at one of the construction sites of a Hyundai-LG battery plant in Ellabell, Georgia, where 475 workers were detained. The majority of the people arrested were South Koreans who were employed as subcontractors and not personnel of Hyundai.
Diplomatic tensions between the U.S. and South Korea arose as a result of the raid, and only days after South Korea had committed itself to investing $150 billion in U.S. investments. South Korean officials negotiated a deal to release the workers, and arrangements were made to send a charter plane to pick the workers up.
Also Read: Trump's AI Ambitions Clash with Immigration Stance: A Dilemma
EB-2 Visa Cap Creates Major Delays
The State Department declared that the fiscal year 2025 EB-2 green card cap has been met, and all new visa applications will be processed until October 1, 2025. This is especially true of the Indian nationals who are already subjected to the longest processing time in employment-based immigration categories.
EB-2 Visa Impact Summary
EB-2 has an annual limit of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 28.6 percent of the global employment limit. Although the cap has been hit, applicants are still allowed to make applications as long as their case is current under the September Visa Bulletin, and allows work and travel approval as they await approvals.
|
Aspect |
Details |
|
Visa Category |
EB-2 (Employment-Based, 2nd Preference) |
|
Fiscal Year |
2025 |
|
Annual Cap Status |
Reached, no new visas until Oct 1, 2025 |
|
Impact on Applicants |
Delays in approvals, especially for Indian nationals |
|
Allowed to File Cases |
Yes, if current under Visa Bulletin |
USCIS Gains New Law Enforcement Powers
The Trump government has given the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) unprecedented powers to employ armed special agents, with the powers to investigate, arrest and prosecute immigration law violations. This is a significant departure from what has been historically seen as an agency that only handles the processing of green cards, citizenship and humanitarian applications.
The final rule adopted by the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, permits USCIS to now possess firearms, issue warrants and order expedited removals. To justify this change, the officials justify it as having to crack down on fraud and enhance coordination with other federal law enforcement agencies.
Also Read: US Issues Over 1 Million Non-Immigrant Visas to Indians
New Visa Interview Location Requirements
Beginning November 1, 2025, immigrant visa applicants will have to interview at the U.S. consulate in their country of residence or nationality. The Department of State indicated that the rule is applicable to every type of visa to immigrants, including family and employment-based cases, and the winners of the diversity visa lottery.
The cases of exceptions will be few and restricted to humanitarian or medical crises. Immigrants who want to join their relatives or seek jobs in the United States find this change to be a further challenge.
Looking Ahead: What These Changes Mean
These sweeping changes in US immigration policy reflect the Trump administration's commitment to stricter immigration enforcement and border security. The combination of ending protective programs, expanding enforcement capabilities, and utilising military resources signals a significant shift in how America handles immigration matters.
For immigrants currently in the United States, these developments create both challenges and uncertainties. Venezuelan TPS holders face immediate decisions about their future, while employment-based applicants must navigate longer waiting periods and increased scrutiny.
Conclusion
The US immigration news September 2025 developments underscore the importance of staying informed about policy changes and seeking legal counsel when necessary. As these new rules take effect, their full impact on immigrant communities and the broader U.S. economy will become clearer in the coming months. Visit the official U.S. Department of Homeland Security website for government updates and information. To learn more about the USA immigration policy, visit TerraTern now!
