Labor groups and immigration scholars have filed a lawsuit challenging the administration’s “Gold Card” visa program, arguing that it creates a pay-to-play pathway for wealthy applicants. The program provides fast-tracked immigration for individuals paying more than $1 million, which critics say diverts EB-1 and EB-2 visa numbers away from scientists and skilled workers. The administration defends the policy as a way to increase revenue and attract global talent, while opponents argue that the EB-5 program already addresses investment-based immigration.

Border encounters fell to 237,500 in Fiscal Year 2025, marking the lowest level in more than 50 years. The decline comes amid tougher enforcement measures in both Mexico and the United States, including stricter asylum rules under President Biden and expanded enforcement after Trump returned to office.

ICE agents will support U.S. security efforts during the Winter Olympics in Italy. Some Italian leaders criticized the move, emphasizing that Italy will lead and control all Olympic security. U.S. agencies will operate from a consulate-based coordination center in Milan.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll shows Trump’s immigration approval has dropped to a record low since his return to office. Only 39% of Americans approve of his immigration policies, while 53% disapprove. Many respondents feel enforcement tactics, including ICE actions, have gone too far.

USCIS announced that the initial registration for the FY 2027 H-1B cap will run from March 4 to March 19, 2026. Employers must register electronically using a USCIS account and pay a $215 fee. This year, the selection process will prioritize higher-skilled, higher-paid candidates. If registrations exceed the cap, a weighted selection will be used. Selected petitioners may also need to pay an additional $100,000 fee before filing.

The U.S. District Court for Nebraska ruled that USCIS’s two-step adjudication process for EB‑1A petitions, including the “final merits determination,” was not validly created and did not follow proper rulemaking procedures. The court stressed it was reviewing the legality of the framework, not the merits of the petitioner’s case.

A federal judge has allowed DHS to require members of Congress to give seven days’ notice before inspecting immigration detention facilities. Lawmakers argue the rule limits oversight, while DHS says it is necessary for security and coordination.

An internal ICE memo revealed that officers may enter homes using administrative warrants, without approval from a judge, in cases involving final removal orders. The guidance has raised serious legal and civil rights concerns, with critics warning it weakens constitutional protections.

Applications for the EB-1A extraordinary-ability green card have tripled over the past four years. Highly skilled workers are increasingly using this route to avoid the H-1B lottery and long green card backlogs, especially for applicants from India and China.

Thousands of people protested across major U.S. cities and college campuses against President Trump’s immigration policies. Demonstrators criticized ICE enforcement tactics and recent detention-related deaths. The protests come amid growing opposition to aggressive deportation efforts nationwide.

Federal agents detained a 5-year-old boy and his father in Minnesota, drawing backlash after a photo showed the child in custody with a Spider-Man backpack. The family are asylum seekers from Ecuador with active cases. Authorities say the arrest followed legal procedures, while attorneys dispute the government’s account.

The Trump administration has launched a new ICE operation in Maine called “Operation Catch of the Day.” DHS confirmed raids began this week, raising concern among immigrant communities, especially Somali Americans. Local leaders warned the operation has created fear and urged ICE to avoid aggressive tactics used in recent enforcement actions elsewhere.