The Trump administration’s comprehensive strategy to reduce legal immigration has inadvertently affected a group previously shielded from such measures: spouses of U.S. citizens. Since President Trump’s return to the White House last year, a series of policy changes have been implemented, including the suspension of immigrant visas for individuals from 75 countries, heightened scrutiny of green-card applicants, and an expanded scope for deportation targets. These changes have had a profound impact on immigrants seeking to enter and remain in the United States through marriage.
Lawyers and affected families have reported that some non-U.S.-citizen spouses are now separated from their American partners and are hesitant to engage with the U.S. immigration system. This shift has created a climate of uncertainty and fear for many families.
Impact on U.S. citizen spouses and families
Ashley DeAzevedo, executive director of American Families United an organization advocating for U.S. citizen spouses and immediate family members involved in immigration processes, noted that life has become increasingly difficult for Americans married to non-citizens. The organization’s membership has surged over the past year, with approximately 1.4 million people seeking support within the U.S. and about 300,000 outside the country. These figures include individuals who have left the U.S. and those wishing to enter.
DeAzevedo highlighted the growing trend of self-deportation among members, driven by the fear of indefinite detention. Additionally, some members have experienced the detention of their spouses, a situation previously uncommon due to the prioritization of detention cases. This change in enforcement priorities has left many families in a state of limbo.
The legal landscape for spouses of U.S. citizens
Sharvari Dalal-Dheini, senior director of government relations at the American Immigration Lawyers Association explained that the U.S. government has always vetted and scrutinized immigrants seeking to stay in the country through marriage. However, spouses of U.S. citizens were generally exempt from broader immigration enforcement efforts. Dalal-Dheini emphasized that this group has historically been considered a privileged class under the law, not subject to immigrant quotas and not required to maintain legal status to adjust their immigration status.
Despite this historical context, the current administration is treating spouses of U.S. citizens like all other immigrants. This shift has significant implications for families navigating the immigration system. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has defended its actions, stating that verifying identities and personal histories of all people seeking immigration benefits is a rigorous process that prioritizes the safety of the American people.
Data and statistics on family and fiancé petitions
The latest data from the Homeland Security Department released in 2026, reveals that about 343,000 people received their green cards through their spouses, accounting for approximately a quarter of all green-card approvals. This number has remained relatively stable over the past decade, ranging between 200,000 and 340,000 people annually. When accounting for other immediate family members who can provide sponsorship, such as children and parents, the number of approved green cards doubles, highlighting the importance of this pathway for U.S. citizens and their immigrant family members.
The average processing time for family member petitions was 13 months, while fiancé petitions took about seven months. These wait times were largely consistent with those observed in early 2026, before the implementation of Trump’s policies. In the first quarter of the 2026 fiscal year, 167,401 immediate family relative petitions and 8,612 fiancé petitions were approved. The number of petitions approved has fluctuated across different administrations.
Challenges faced by U.S. citizen spouses
The data, however, does not fully capture the additional challenges faced by non-citizen spouses, particularly those from one of the over 70 countries subject to travel and immigrant visa holds. One such case involves Es, a green-card holder married to a U.S. citizen. Born in one of the 39 countries subject to a travel ban, Es’ application for citizenship, filed last year, has not yet been reviewed. The travel ban does not make exceptions, even for spouses of U.S. military members.
Es and her husband, who is in the Army, have faced significant disruptions to their lives. Originally scheduled to move to Germany in July, they have had to postpone their plans to October to see if Es’ citizenship application can be resolved. The couple is now grappling with decisions about their home, potential separate travel, and the implications of Es’ lack of citizenship on their two young U.S. citizen children. Es expressed concern about the impact on her husband’s military readiness and the emotional toll of being separated.
The chilling effect on engaging with the immigration process
Advocates have noted that recent policy changes have intensified scrutiny of all immigration applications, leading to a chilling effect on families’ willingness to engage with the government. USCIS officers are now instructed to conduct more interviews, and a recent memo encouraged officers to consider whether applicants had returned to their home country to apply for a green card. Additionally, Trump has asked financial institutions to review the bank accounts of those in the U.S. without permanent status.
Eric Welsh, an immigration attorney in California, highlighted that clients must now prepare for questions about when and how they applied for a green card, including providing evidence of good moral character and other information previously not required for those seeking permanent residency or U.S. citizenship through marriage. Welsh emphasized that spouses are vulnerable, as there is no absolute right to remain in the country or to be granted adjustment of status.
Both Welsh and DeAzevedo have observed that some families are hesitating to move forward with their immigration cases due to the increased scrutiny and potential risks. This chilling effect has created a climate of fear and uncertainty for many families navigating the immigration system.
