Thanks for joining us for this week’s update on the Department of Homeland Security, where the big headline is DHS’s official termination of Temporary Protected Status, or TPS, for Venezuela, announced by Secretary Kristi Noem. The 2021 designation will expire on September 10, 2025, meaning tens of thousands of Venezuelans living in the U.S. under this protection will need to review their options—DHS is urging anyone affected to visit uscis.gov for details about next steps and legal rights.
In other major developments, DHS published its Spring 2025 Unified Regulatory Agenda, revealing significant shifts in immigration policy. Among the headline changes, the H-1B temporary worker program now operates under a beneficiary-centric model to limit abuse of the lottery system and streamline approvals for certain applications. For businesses, this underscores the need to consult legal counsel and HR teams as the rules around petitions, renewals, and documentation tighten and new fee structures come into play. As attorney experts at Greenberg Traurig highlight, new enforcement actions can now take place at all workplaces, following the revocation of previous limitations by Executive Order 14159.
International students and exchange visitors are also in the spotlight. Just last week, DHS proposed ending the longstanding “duration of status” for F and J nonimmigrants, in favor of fixed dates for admission with formal extension procedures. This proposal, pending public comment, marks a fundamental change for foreign students and scholars who’ve operated for over thirty years under the flexible D/S model. University officials nationwide, from Yale to the national policy group NAFSA, are urging students to stay informed, as any final rule could reshape study and research programs across the U.S.
There’s also fresh focus on security. The White House’s January Executive Order 14161 re-emphasizes strict vetting in the visa process, aiming to keep out national security threats. This includes enhanced social media review for immigration applicants, and new rules for exchange programs now require sponsors to report lawsuits over affirmative action and diversity policies, as well as incidents involving proscribed antisemitic actions or terrorist activity.
For American citizens, these regulatory changes aim to bolster national security and integrity in the immigration process, but they may also spark concern in communities where TPS holders and international students contribute to local economies and cultures. For employers, compliance will require careful attention to new vetting procedures and immigration compliance updates. State and local governments, especially those with large immigrant populations or robust university systems, may face increased demand for guidance and support services.
The DHS is accepting public input on the proposed F and J visa changes—so for those who want to have their say, keep an eye on the Federal Register’s comment window in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, hearings and markups in Congress, such as the recent committee action in the House, will shape the coming months, especially as budget talks and regulatory enforcement ramp up.
For more details and to see how these changes might affect you, visit the official DHS and USCIS websites. If you’re impacted by the Venezuelan TPS change or any new visa rules, reach out to a qualified immigration attorney or local advocacy group.
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