THE WEEK’S US BORDER NEWS IN BRIEF:
During the week of May 17–23, 2026, the Trump administration rolled out sweeping new restrictions shifting its focus toward legal immigration, while congressional efforts to pass a multi-billion-dollar immigration enforcement bill stalled.
Major Shift in Green Card Policy
On Friday, May 22, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a major policy memorandum that completely upended a 60-year-old framework.
Mandatory Consular Processing: Foreigners temporarily in the U.S. (including students, tourists, and temporary workers) who want to apply for a green card must now leave the country and apply through a State Department consulate abroad.
Exceptional Circumstances Only: In-country “adjustment of status” will now only be granted under extraordinary, case-by-case circumstances.
Impact: Policy analysts warn that this could force hundreds of thousands of people out of the country for lengthy processing periods, particularly nationals from the 39 countries currently subject to the administration’s expanded travel ban.
Stalled $70 Billion Enforcement Bill in Congress
Senate Republicans abruptly left Washington on Thursday, May 21, without voting on a roughly $70 billion budget package to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Border Patrol.
The Impasse: Progress halted due to a bitter intra-party dispute over a White House-backed $1.776 billion settlement fund intended to compensate Trump allies who claim they were politically prosecuted. Retiring Senator Thom Tillis notably slammed the fund as “stupid on stilts”.
Religious Backlash: Concurrently, a group of U.S. Catholic bishops from the southwest border sent a formal letter to Congress expressing “grave concern” over the $72 billion funding push, citing humanitarian anxieties regarding rapid deportations and mass detentions.
Threats to Sanctuary City Airports
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin triggered widespread alarm within the travel industry after reiterating a proposal to withdraw U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers from major international airports located in sanctuary cities.
Targeted Cities: The plan would reduce customs staffing at critical international transit hubs like New York (JFK and Newark) and Portland.
Widespread Condemnation: The U.S. Travel Association and major commercial airlines fiercely condemned the idea, warning it would cause immense economic fallout and travel chaos for American citizens and international visitors alike.
Stricter Domestic Rules and Judicial Overhaul
Immigration Court Expansion: On May 21, the Department of Justice (DOJ) onboarded over 80 new immigration judges—the largest single class in agency history—to expedite the backlog of 3.5 million pending cases and accelerate removal orders.
Signature Scrutiny & Delays: USCIS updated its rules to allow immediate denial of permanent residency and citizenship applications if signatures on the paperwork are not identical. This, combined with mandatory FBI background re-checks, has pushed citizenship processing wait times from 3–4 months to nearly a year.
ICE Overstay Warnings: ICE issued a stark warning that entering the country legally on a visa provides no protection against detention or deportation if individuals violate their terms of stay, even with an active or pending affirmative asylum petition.
Detention Center Pushback: In Rochester, New York, federal officials confirmed they are moving forward with a controversial new downtown immigration detention center (the Keating Building project) despite fierce opposition from local leaders, including Representative Joe Morelle and Senator Chuck Schumer.
SINCE OUR STORY:
(Updates on stories previously covered by US Border News)
Large Drug Busts Continue in Texas
Following our story this week about large busts of cartel drugs in Texas, authorities there reported four more significant seizures:
30+ kilos of cocaine seized in the Rio Grande Valley Border Patrol Sector
40 pounds of cocaine seized at the Falfurrias Border Patrol Checkpoint
Investigation Into Cartel Ties to Mexican Government Underway
Following our story late last month about the U.S. indictments of the Governor of the Mexican State of SInaloa and nine other current and former Mexican officials on drug trafficking and weapons charges for their alleged involvement with the Sinaloa Cartel, comes news this week of reaction from Mexican authorities:
The elected Governor of Sinaloa, Rubén Rocha Moya, announced he has been summoned for questioning by the Mexican Attorney General.
These actions come one day after US Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin met with President Claudia Sheinbaum in Mexico CIty. The US is requesting the Mexican government to arrest the ten suspects and turn them over to US authorities for trial.
FINALLY, IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:
(Stories covered by US Border News during the past week)
Across the border from Brownsville
Cartels lose large drug loads to Texas cops
Border busts add up
Feds fight forbidden food at US Borders
Aided by a “Beagle Brigade”
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Abrazos,
Jack Beavers
