The Trump administration has implemented a significant change in immigration policy, mandating that most foreigners seeking green cards must apply from outside the United States. This new guideline, outlined in a six-page memo by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), is described as a return to the original intent of federal immigration law. Under the new rules, individuals currently in the U.S. on temporary visas, such as students and workers, will generally be required to submit their applications through U.S. State Department consulates in their home countries, unless they meet certain extraordinary circumstances. This shift is expected to impact hundreds of thousands of applicants annually, particularly those who have been living in the U.S. on temporary visas. Immigration lawyers and advocates have raised concerns that the policy could disproportionately affect individuals from countries without U.S. diplomatic relations, such as Iran and Afghanistan. Critics argue that the administration's move is part of a broader effort to limit legal immigration pathways and may face legal challenges. The implications of this policy change are still being assessed, with many advocates scrambling to understand its full impact.