New Green Cards Plunge in the U.S. as Immigration Arrests Rise

Green Cards Cut in Half

Immigration Arrests Triple

More Detentions of Legal Migrants

Immigration policy in the United States is undergoing a significant shift: fewer legal pathways to stay and more enforcement operations to detain.

A new report reveals that in the first months of the second term of President Donald Trump, the balance has tilted strongly toward enforcement and detention, affecting even immigrants who were already in the process of regularizing their status.

Why it matters: The green card decline US immigration arrests trend not only limits new permanent residency approvals but also leaves thousands more vulnerable to detention—even those trying to comply with the law.

Green Cards Drop Sharply at the Start of the New Term

Green card decline as US immigration arrests rise – PHOTO: Shutterstock

The key figure: approvals for permanent residency have been cut nearly in half in just one year.

In January 2026, the government granted 34,000 green cards, compared to 65,000 in the same month of 2025.

This decline coincides with changes in the immigration system that have slowed applications across multiple categories.

The trend is not isolated—it reflects a broader tightening that affects both new applicants and those already living in the country.

Immigration Arrests Rise to Record Levels

While residency approvals fall, detentions are increasing.

The report indicates that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested more than 38,000 migrants in January 2026, compared to 12,348 in the same month the previous year.

The contrast is clear: fewer legal pathways and more enforcement on the ground.

This combination has been interpreted as part of a strategy that prioritizes immigration enforcement over regularization.

Suspension of Applications Leaves Legal Migrants Exposed

The most sensitive point in the report focuses on the suspension of immigration processes.

“The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) suspended the processing of many green card applications, allowing ICE to arrest legal immigrants, including refugees, individuals with temporary protection, and spouses of U.S. citizens,” wrote report author David J. Bier.

This means that people already within the legal system may be left in limbo, without effective protection against detention.

Fewer Legal Options to Adjust Immigration Status

The report also notes that the government has limited the ability of certain groups to adjust their immigration status within the country.

Among those affected are refugees and beneficiaries of humanitarian programs.

Additionally, there has been a 20% drop in family-sponsored green cards since the start of the administration.

This is compounded by the suspension of processing for dozens of countries: first 19 nations—including Cuba and Venezuela—and later expanded to 40 countries, such as Nicaragua.

Immigration Strategy: Less Legal Pathways, More Control

The analysis from the Cato Institute is direct about the intent behind these measures.

The suspension of green card applications “is a deliberate effort to increase ICE arrests by frustrating people’s attempts to remain on the right side of the law,” according to Bier.

He adds a key point to understand the current system:

“Suspending multiple green card pathways has allowed ICE to increase arrests of people who otherwise would have had legal status or been protected from detention. Removing their legal status is a necessary precondition for removing people from the country.”

What’s Next: More Pressure on the Immigration System

Green card decline as US immigration arrests rise – PHOTO: Shutterstock

The outlook points to an increasingly restrictive immigration system.

Fewer approvals, more delays, and a growing number of people in legal uncertainty could translate into a sustained rise in detentions.

In practice, this shift not only redefines who can obtain a green card, but also who becomes vulnerable within the United States.

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SOURCE: EFE