How to prepare for the 2025 Trump Administration

With the election of Donald Trump to serve as our next president, who ran on a decidedly anti-immigrant platform, we are certain to see dramatic shifts in immigration policy. Based on Trump’s rhetoric, his previous administration from 2017-2020, and Project 2025 (which is well understood to be the incoming administration’s roadmap on immigration), we expect to see increased immigration enforcement; slower processing times for immigration benefits; limitations on or elimination of humanitarian protections such as asylum, Temporary Protected Status (TPS), Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), and U and T visas for victims of crime and human trafficking; shifts in criteria to qualify for various immigration statuses in the United States; and restrictions in legal immigration, including F-1 Student Visas, H-1B visa programs, and H-2 visa programs.

We also expect the American immigration system to transform frequently and rapidly, forcing attorneys, applicants, and their sponsors to continuously adapt to changes in policy guidance from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

While we hope that many of the actions taken by the Trump administration will be stopped, or at least challenged, in federal court, we anticipate a tumultuous four years ahead.

With more than 50 years of cumulative experience in the field of immigration, we often say at Kolko & Casey that the best part of our job is the people. Every day, we have the opportunity to meet individuals and learn their personal stories or the stories of their company, whether it is a business working in the field of solar energy; an accomplished educator teaching in a dual language classroom; an LGBTQ person whose gender identity or sexual orientation is criminalized in their home country; a PhD scientist doing cutting-edge research in pediatric cancer; a journalist who has fled their country due to political persecution; a mother who escaped an abusive relationship with her children from a country that does not provide protections against domestic violence; a hardworking small business owner who provides a critical service to the community; or a DACA recipient working in finance. Every individual’s story is compelling and enriches the fabric of our country.

It is truly our privilege to help our clients achieve immigration milestones, whether it is gaining lawful permanent residency to live with their spouse and children in the United States, securing asylum protection, opening a small business as an E-2 investor, helping a company secure an H-1B visa for a talented foreign national graduate or a physician in an underserved area, or helping a long-time lawful permanent resident become a U.S. citizen.

As a law firm dedicated to immigrant advocacy, we will continue to advocate for individuals, families, and businesses in their immigration matters, and advise them about the rapidly changing immigration landscape in the United States.

We encourage all foreign nationals to know their rights and to prepare themselves for the next four years of the Trump administration.

The attorneys and staff at Kolko & Casey, P.C. will continue to keep up-to-date and work as a team to serve our clients to achieve the best outcomes possible. We are here to fight for you and advocate for you just as we have been doing for the past several decades and during the first Trump Administration, whether it is talking to our congressional representatives, appearing in Court, advocating before the immigration benefits agencies or attending and presenting at conferences to keep apprised of changes in law.