Dominican New Yorkers worry over Trump residency rule change

Immigrants from the Dominican Republic living in New York City are expressing concern about a new immigration measure announced by President Donald Trump that would alter the process for obtaining permanent residence. The rule would require applicants to pursue their green‑card applications abroad rather than adjusting status while remaining in the United States, a practice that has been available for decades to students, temporary workers and spouses of U.S. citizens.

US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) says applicants may still stay in the U.S. during processing under “extraordinary circumstances,” though it has not defined what qualifies. The agency has not released detailed guidance on how pending cases will be affected. Many Dominican residents plan to consult immigration attorneys, and Verónica Cardenas, an immigration lawyer and former ICE prosecutor, warned that leaving the country could "decrease their chances of returning legally" amid the rapid policy shift.