Brace yourself: the days of a quick marriage to a U.S. citizen being a golden ticket to residency are over under the Trump administration’s watchful eye.

The latest policy shift ramps up scrutiny on marriage-based green card applications, targeting suspected fraud while making it clear that tying the knot with an American is no longer a near-certain path to legal status, Breitbart reported. 

For years, marrying a U.S. citizen was a well-trodden route for migrants seeking residency, often with minimal pushback from federal agencies.

Scrutiny Rises on Marriage Fraud Claims

But the Trump team, spotting a surge in sham marriages where migrants allegedly pay for temporary unions, has flipped the script with a hard-nosed approach.

Now, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is digging deeper into every application, looking for proof of genuine relationships rather than convenient arrangements.

Immigration lawyers are sounding the alarm, cautioning clients that federal skepticism is at an all-time high when it comes to these unions.

Living Together Becomes Non-Negotiable Rule

A key change is the emphasis on shared domicile—couples must live under the same roof daily, no excuses accepted.

As immigration attorney Brad Bernstein bluntly put it, “Immigration officers do not care why you live apart, and they do not care if it’s for work, school, money, or convenience” (NDTV).

Bernstein didn’t mince words, adding, “So, if you’re not living in the same house every day, immigration is going to start questioning the marriage. And once they question it, they’re investigating, and once they come knocking on your door, they’re looking to deny you” (NDTV).

Trump Orders Full Green Card Review

Let’s not pretend this is just about new applicants—even existing green card holders aren’t safe from the magnifying glass, with the administration announcing reexaminations of past approvals.

On Thanksgiving Day, USCIS Director Joseph Edlow declared a sweeping review, stating, “At the direction of @POTUS, I have directed a full scale, rigorous reexamination of every Green Card for every alien from every country of concern” (Thanksgiving Day announcement).

While some might call this overreach, the focus on national security and protecting American interests resonates with those tired of lax policies being exploited.

Diversity Lottery Axed Amid Security Concerns

Adding fuel to the fire, the Trump administration has also scrapped the diversity visa lottery, a program that once welcomed up to 55,000 migrants annually.

This move came after the arrest of a Portuguese national, charged with deadly shootings at Brown University and MIT, who had entered the U.S. through the 2017 lottery.

Critics of progressive immigration agendas may see this as a long-overdue correction, though it’s worth noting the human cost for genuine applicants caught in the crosshairs of these tougher rules.