TPS remained a key humanitarian protection, but the Supreme Court allowed ending some TPS designations for certain groups, drawing concern from immigrant advocates.

Mandatory Registration of Foreigners was reactivated, requiring certain individuals in the U.S. to register and provide biographical information, with minors who were previously registered required to re-register at age 14.

Agency roles were clarified: USCIS handles benefits and residency, ICE conducts detention and removals, CBP controls entry points, and the Department of State issues visas through embassies and consulates.

The Laken Riley Act expanded mandatory detention for certain irregular migrants and empowered states to challenge federal compliance with detention and removal obligations.

Birthright citizenship was reaffirmed by the Supreme Court on June 30, 2026, preserving automatic citizenship for most people born in U.S. territory with limited exceptions.

The budget for ICE and border enforcement grew under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, funding border infrastructure, detention capacity, agent hiring, and deportation operations to about $170 billion.

USCIS policy shifts in 2026 steered permanent residency toward consular processing for many temporary stays, unless extraordinary circumstances justify exceptions.

USCIS administrative changes included revised humanitarian criteria, updated guidelines for immigration officers, and new procedures for benefits, without changing the underlying statute.

Asylum and humanitarian protection persisted, though border access became more restricted, with the Supreme Court backing government processing measures for certain asylum applicants; humanitarian parole remained available but subject to administrative changes.

In 2026, major U.S. immigration policy changes unfolded within the framework of the Immigration and Nationality Act, with new laws, regulations, and administrative actions reshaping its application.