Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced that the Trump administration has made strides in accelerating the processing of green card and visa applications. Speaking in November, Noem emphasized that more people are becoming U.S. citizens than ever before during this administration, reflecting both faster processing and increased naturalizations.
Despite these remarks, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is currently facing an unprecedented backlog, with over 11 million pending applications. The surge in demand spans green cards, work permits, admissions like the widely used H-1B visa, and other immigration benefits. Processing times for many categories remain lengthy, causing frustration among applicants awaiting decisions.
Noem highlighted the administration’s efforts to add integrity to the visa and green card systems by improving vetting procedures to ensure that only qualified individuals seeking legitimate entry are approved. She also noted a strong commitment to balancing enforcement with facilitating legal immigration.
However, while premium processing fees can slightly shorten wait times for some, average processing for employment-based green cards still extends to several years. Experts argue that reforming and streamlining immigration procedures remain essential to maintaining the United States’ competitiveness in attracting global talent.
The administration’s broader immigration agenda continues to focus on security, efficiency, and legal compliance as it addresses these challenges.
