The Trump administration's new green card policy, requiring many immigrants to leave the U.S. to await permanent residency, has caused widespread confusion and fear in Modesto and Stanislaus County.
- The policy reverses a 70-year-old practice allowing adjustment of status from within the U.S. - Attorneys, including Modesto-based Patrick Kolasinski, call the directive illegal and expect litigation.
- California Attorney General Rob Bonta is monitoring the situation and considering legal action. - Many applicants face insurmountable barriers to consular processing, including visa suspensions and re-entry bans.
The policy's unclear scope and potential retroactive application have left immigrant families and legal experts in a state of high anxiety.