March 2025 U.S. Immigration Policy Updates

In March 2025, the United States witnessed several significant developments in immigration policy. At the federal level, the nomination of a new USCIS Director by President Trump may lead to the implementation of more stringent review mechanisms. Concurrently, congressional members have proposed restricting student visas for Chinese nationals and eliminating the OPT program for international students. Additionally, the processing of green card applications for asylum seekers and refugees has been suspended, drawing widespread attention. At the local level, the Los Angeles City Council has enacted a series of immigrant protection measures, addressing areas such as employer responsibilities, legal aid, public education, and law enforcement oversight.

This article analyzes these three policy changes and explores their potential impact on U.S. businesses, Chinese students, and immigrant families.

If you or your company have any questions about U.S. immigration policy or need our assistance, please feel free to contact the ILS Immigration Team at contact@consultils.com.

Tightening of Student Visa and OPT Policies

In March 2025, several federal policy developments emerged that are closely related to Chinese international students.​

1. Nomination of New USCIS Director May Signal Return to Intense Scrutiny

On March 11, President Trump nominated Joseph Edlow to serve as the Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), pending Senate confirmation. Edlow previously served as Acting Director in 2020, during which he promoted several stringent immigration review policies, including:​

• Enhancing visa background checks​

• Stricter scrutiny of whether OPT internships align with students' fields of study​

• Limiting channels for status extensions and changes​

• Raising H-1B visa approval standards​

  
  

His appointment could indicate a return to a more rigorous enforcement approach by USCIS, affecting approval processes for F-1 student visas, OPT, and H-1B visas.​

2. Congressional Proposal: Comprehensive Ban on Student Visas for Chinese Nationals

On March 14, Representative Riley Moore introduced a bill in Congress proposing a complete ban on issuing F-1 (student), J-1 (exchange visitor), and M-1 (vocational training) visas to citizens of mainland China. He claims that Chinese students may pose a "national security risk," involving issues of technology transfer and intellectual property.​

This proposal clearly contains elements of nationality-based discrimination, violating the U.S. Constitution and the fundamental principles of international educational exchange. According to the latest data from the "Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange," international students contributed $43.8 billion to the U.S. economy in the 2023-2024 academic year, with Chinese students accounting for 32.6% of this total, approximately $15 billion. This not only supports numerous academic and technological research initiatives but also has a profound impact on the U.S. economy. Therefore, various stakeholders in the business and academic communities are likely to strongly oppose such proposals.​

Furthermore, President Trump previously proposed the $5 million "Gold Card" visa program, aiming to attract foreign capital to alleviate the U.S. fiscal deficit, indicating his recognition of the importance of foreign investment to the U.S. economy. In this context, abruptly abandoning the stable and significant economic contributions from Chinese students seems highly unlikely. Consequently, such extreme proposals lack practical feasibility and are unlikely to gain widespread support or be implemented.​

3. Congressional Proposal: Complete Termination of the OPT Program

On March 25, Representative Paul Gosar reintroduced the "Fairness for High-Skilled Americans Act" (H.R. 2315), advocating for the complete termination of the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program, which currently allows F-1 students to work in the U.S. for up to three years after graduation. He emphasizes that the bill does not restrict F-1 students from working legally while enrolled but eliminates the additional three-year post-graduation work authorization. He criticizes the current OPT program for:​

• Operating without congressional authorization, effectively circumventing H-1B quota limits​

• Allowing over 100,000 graduates to work in the U.S. annually, impacting employment opportunities for local university graduates​

• Exempting employers from paying Social Security and Medicare taxes, reducing the cost of employing foreign graduates by 10%-15%, thereby motivating companies to replace domestic employees​

• Causing an estimated annual loss of approximately $4 billion to Social Security and Medicare trust funds​

  
  

Similar bills were introduced during the 2019 to 2021 congressional sessions but failed to advance to substantive deliberation. The current bill has not yet entered committee discussion, and the technology and business sectors generally support OPT as a means to attract international talent. Therefore, in the short term, this bill is unlikely to pass. However, at the administrative level, USCIS may strengthen OPT reviews, extend processing times, or adjust policy applicability.​

In summary, the aforementioned three federal developments have not yet resulted in actual legal changes, and some proposals are too radical to be practically viable. However, the policy signals they convey are noteworthy, indicating that international students may face stricter regulations in visa approvals, employment through OPT, and status transitions in the future. It is advisable for students and employers who rely on international talent to monitor these developments closely and plan accordingly for compliance.​

Suspension of Green Card Processing for Asylum Seekers and Refugees

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has recently implemented a temporary suspension on the processing of Form I-485 applications for adjustment of status for certain asylum seekers and refugees. This suspension primarily affects applicants who:​

• Have been granted asylum status in the United States for over one year​

• Were admitted to the U.S. through the refugee program over one year ago​

• Meet the statutory qualifications to apply for lawful permanent resident status (green card)​

  
  

According to reports, this suspension is an action taken by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to enhance security screenings. The suspension is not based on early executive orders from the Trump administration but is in line with current immigration policy frameworks for security review procedures.

Currently, many affected applicants' cases are stalled at the "Case Received" or “Waiting to Schedule Interview” stages, with no further updates or requests for evidence. No official end date has been announced for this suspension.

USCIS has stated: “To identify potential fraud, public safety, or national security risks, we are implementing temporary processing pauses on certain applications to allow for the necessary additional vetting.”

Applicants are advised to regularly check their case status through the official USCIS website or their individual online accounts, and to ensure that their contact information remains up to date in case further notices are issued.

Los Angeles City Council Passes Immigrant Protection Motions

In response to increased federal immigration enforcement efforts targeting undocumented immigrants and sanctuary jurisdictions, the Los Angeles City Council passed a package of proposals on March 26 aimed at strengthening protections for immigrant communities. These initiatives focus on five core areas: employer obligations, legal aid funding, public education, law enforcement transparency, and policy compliance oversight. The key measures are as follows:

1. Employer Notification Requirements

• The City will develop a policy requiring businesses to notify city officials when they become aware of planned or active Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions.

• Employers must also ensure that their employees are informed of their basic rights under immigration law, particularly during ICE operations.

  
  

2. Continued Legal Aid Funding

• The Council approved $540,000 in funding to maintain immigration legal services, particularly in light of recent freezes in federal support.

• These funds will support free consultations and representation for vulnerable immigrants, including those in deportation proceedings.

  
  

3. Citywide Public Rights Education

• The City will launch a comprehensive “Know Your Rights” campaign to educate immigrants about their legal protections under Los Angeles’s sanctuary city policies.

• The campaign will also highlight California’s anti-discrimination laws and inform residents about available free legal and social services.

  
  

4. U Visa Processing Transparency

• The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) is required to submit regular reports detailing the status and backlog of U visa certifications.

• U visas are reserved for victims of serious crimes, such as domestic violence and sexual assault, who cooperate with law enforcement.

• The City Council will monitor processing timelines, barriers to certification, and law enforcement responsiveness.

  
  

5. Sanctuary Policy Compliance Audit

• The City will conduct a comprehensive audit of the implementation of Los Angeles’s sanctuary city policies and the California Values Act.

• The audit will ensure that city departments and personnel are not assisting federal immigration enforcement unless legally required to do so by court order.

  
  

These initiatives reaffirm Los Angeles’s commitment to protecting immigrant communities and maintaining public trust. City Council members emphasized that these measures aim to safeguard all residents—regardless of immigration status—and to prevent the chilling effects of federal enforcement on local communities.

At present, the City Council has only approved the proposals; the next steps require relevant city departments to draft implementation guidelines, allocate budgets, and develop execution procedures. In addition, certain motions will need to await follow-up reports from the Budget Committee or the Police Department. In other words, this is merely the first step—actual implementation and enforcement will require time and continued effort.

Check out the related articles to stay ahead of changing policies:

• Nationwide ICE Raids Underway: How to Respond in Public Spaces, Private Homes, and Workplaces

• USCIS Implements New Alien Registration Rule

Disclaimer: The materials provided on this website are for general informational purposes only and do not, and are not intended to, constitute legal advice. You should not act or refrain from acting based on any information provided here. Please consult with your own legal counsel regarding your specific situation and legal questions.=

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Anna is the Partner and Head of Immigration at ILS. She has over a decade of experience in business immigration, transactions, and foreign investment.

She provides comprehensive guidance on U.S. business immigration, assisting global employers in recruiting and retaining foreign executives and skilled professionals. Anna specializes in H, L, E2, TN, O, EB1, and PERM cases, serving clients in technology, biotech, telecommunications, entertainment, animation, education, and logistics.

Email: contact@consultils.com | Phone: 626-344-8949