Last Week’s Highlights in Immigration: Visa Freezes & Workforce Shocks 🚨
- Milow LeBlanc
- Sep 8
- 2 min read
U.S. State Department Narrows Immigrant Visa Interview Locations
Beginning November 1, immigrant visa applicants must interview only at the consulate in their country of residence or, if requested, their country of nationality. The Department of State said the rule applies to all immigrant visa types, including family- and employment-based cases as well as Diversity Visa lottery winners. Exceptions will be rare and limited to humanitarian or medical emergencies.
The PERM Takeaway: Centralized interviews could add logistical hurdles and delays for employees abroad. Employers sponsoring foreign talent should plan for longer interview timelines and build contingencies into hiring schedules.
USCIS Gains Law Enforcement Powers Under Trump Rule
USCIS now has authority to hire armed “special agents” empowered to investigate, arrest, and prosecute immigration violations. This blurs the agency’s traditional role of processing benefits with active enforcement.
The PERM Takeaway: With USCIS adopting an enforcement posture, employers must be even more vigilant about compliance. Accurate filings and clean records will be crucial as scrutiny intensifies.
Nearly 500 Workers Detained in Georgia Hyundai Plant Raid
In the largest immigration raid in U.S. history, federal agents detained 475 workers at a Hyundai-LG battery plant construction site in Georgia. Many were subcontractors, sparking diplomatic concerns with South Korea and halting operations.
The PERM Takeaway: Raids highlight the risks of subcontractor oversight lapses. Employers should audit vendors and staffing partners to ensure full I-9 and work authorization compliance to avoid exposure.
U.S. Ends TPS for Venezuela, Effective September 2025
The Trump administration terminated Temporary Protected Status for nearly 270,000 Venezuelans, set to expire September 10, 2025. Migrants without another legal status could face deportation.
The PERM Takeaway: The loss of TPS authorization will squeeze sectors reliant on Venezuelan workers. Employers should explore sponsorship pathways, including PERM, for valued employees who may lose their status.
Pentagon to Send 600 Military Lawyers as Immigration Judges
The Pentagon will deploy military attorneys to serve as temporary immigration judges, doubling the bench to address the 3.5 million–case backlog. Critics argue they lack immigration law expertise, raising due process concerns.
The PERM Takeaway: Case backlogs remain volatile. Employers must anticipate processing delays despite added judges and should file early to secure priority dates and minimize workforce disruptions.
Annual EB-2 Green Card Cap Reached for FY 2025
The EB-2 green card cap has been reached, halting approvals until the new fiscal year on October 1. Applicants can still file and obtain work/travel authorization but won’t see final decisions until visa numbers reset.
The PERM Takeaway: The freeze underscores heavy demand for EB-2 visas. Employers should get ahead by filing as soon as priority dates are current waiting could mean months of delay.
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