On September 5, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a final rule that significantly expands the authority of USCIS to carry out immigration enforcement activities and facilitate the removal of individuals living in the United States without valid status.

This final rule marks a fundamental shift for United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) into immigration enforcement. Historically, USCIS has been primarily responsible for identifying and investigating fraud through civil investigations conducted during the regular adjudication of applications and petitions for immigration benefits. In contrast, Immigration and Customs Enforcement has until now maintained the sole responsibility for detecting, deterring and conducting criminal investigations of

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