You can find the online version of the bulletin here: https://forumtogether.org/article/legislative-bulletin-friday-october-31-2025/
With hope,
Nicci
DEVELOPMENTS IN IMMIGRATION POLICY THIS WEEK
Here, we summarize some of the most important recent developments in immigration policy on the federal, legal, state, and local levels.
Federal
Trump Administration Slashes Refugee Program to Lowest Level
President Trump set the refugee admissions ceiling at 7,500 for fiscal year 2026, the lowest cap since the U.S. refugee program was established in 1980, according to a Federal Register notice dated September 30 and published on October 31. The determination states that admissions will "primarily be allocated among Afrikaners from South Africa" and "other victims of illegal or unjust discrimination in their respective homelands." President Trump suspended the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program on his first day in office, later creating an exemption for white South Africans whom his administration claims face racial persecution, despite denials from the South African government. The administration
stated the 7,500 level is "justified by humanitarian concerns or is otherwise in the national interest." The cap contrasts sharply with historical averages of around 95,000 refugee admissions under both Democratic and Republican administrations.
Lawmakers condemned the decision as "morally indefensible" and "illegal," arguing the president failed to conduct required Congressional consultations before setting the refugee cap. Refugee resettlement organizations criticized the policy for undermining the program's purpose, with Global Refuge President Krish O'Mara Vignarajah stating it "lowers our moral standing" at a time of global crises in Afghanistan, Venezuela, and Sudan. A senior administration official blamed the government shutdown for delayed Congressional consultation, saying no refugees will be admitted until those discussions occur.
Trump Administration Reassigns ICE Leadership in Major Overhaul
The Trump administration is reassigning at least a dozen Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) field office directors and replacing most with Border Patrol officials in an unprecedented leadership overhaul affecting roughly half of ICE's 25 field offices nationwide. Directors in Denver, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Diego, El Paso, Seattle/Portland, and New Orleans have been reassigned to other positions. The replacements are being vetted by Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, and White House adviser Corey Lewandowski.
The changes stem from frustration that ICE has not met the White House target of 3,000 arrests per day, averaging approximately 1,178 daily arrests as of late September. Senior administration officials expressed preference for Border Patrol's tactics, including helicopter deployments to residential buildings and retail parking lot operations, amid dissatisfaction with ICE's performance. Meanwhile, internal tensions have emerged within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with one official telling reporters that "we're arresting criminals, while they are going to Home Depots and car washes," referring to Border Patrol operations.
DHS Eliminates Automatic Work Permit Extensions for Renewal Applicants
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a rule on October 30 eliminating automatic work authorization extensions for most renewal applicants who previously received up to 540 days of continued employment authorization while their applications were pending. Under the new policy, applicants who file renewals on or after October 30 will lose work authorization when their current documents expire, even if their renewal is pending, and must wait until immigration officials approve the renewal and issue a new card before resuming employment. Limited exceptions remain for Temporary Protected Status holders and certain students.
The policy is expected to disrupt businesses and force employers to remove workers from payroll due to processing delays, affecting hundreds of thousands of workers including those seeking green cards, spouses of visa holders, and applicants under humanitarian programs. Immigration attorneys warned that workers who have lived in the U.S. for years and consistently renewed their work permits will face termination because processing times frequently exceed six months.
USCIS Implements Electronic-Only Payment Policy
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) began requiring electronic payments for all paper-filed immigration forms on October 28, ending acceptance of checks and money orders. Applicants must now pay fees by credit or debit card or through direct bank account transfers from U.S. banks. USCIS spokesperson Matthew Tragesser stated the change aims to reduce processing delays and risks associated with fraud, lost payments, and theft, noting that checks and money orders previously comprised over 90% of payments. The policy aligns with Executive Order 14247, which requires government-wide electronic payment systems.
USCIS said it will allow exemptions for applicants who lack access to banking services or electronic payment systems, though exemption requests must be submitted using a separate form. The agency also said it will reject applications without valid payment of the correct fee amount. Forms filed through USCIS online accounts continue to accept electronic payments as before, with the agency encouraging applicants to file online.
Legal
Portland and Chicago National Guard Cases Advance Through Federal Courts
The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals voted on October 28 to rehear the case over President Trump's National Guard deployment to Portland, vacating a previous 2-1 ruling that had sided with the Trump administration and reinstating a lower court's temporary restraining order blocking the deployment. The full appeals court will now reconsider the case with an 11-judge panel after a judge requested the review, writing in her earlier dissent that colleagues should "act swiftly to vacate the majority's order before the illegal deployment of troops under false pretenses can occur." The decision maintains the current status quo in which 200 Oregon National Guard troops remain under federal control but cannot be deployed to Portland while litigation continues. A federal judge is simultaneously presiding over a three-day trial that began October 29 to determine whether Trump's deployment plans violate federal law and state sovereignty.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court requested additional briefing on October 29 in the administration's bid to deploy National Guard troops to Chicago, asking both parties to clarify whether "regular forces" in federal law refers specifically to U.S. military forces and how that interpretation affects the deployment authority. The justices set a November 10 deadline for initial briefs and November 17 for replies, indicating no decision will come before mid-November and suggesting the Court wants more information before ruling on the administration's emergency request to lift a lower court's temporary restraining order blocking Illinois deployment. The Trump administration has argued that protests against immigration enforcement in Chicago constitute a "rebellion or danger of rebellion," while Illinois and Chicago officials maintain the
deployment is unnecessary and violates state sovereignty.
Federal Judge Intensifies Oversight of Immigration Agents in Chicago
A federal judge ordered Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino on October 28 to appear in her courtroom daily at 6 p.m. until November 5 to report on immigration enforcement operations after agents deployed tear gas in residential neighborhoods for three consecutive days. The judge also required Bovino to obtain a body camera and training by October 31 after he testified he does not wear one despite leading approximately 200 Border Patrol agents during "Operation Midway Blitz." Subsequently, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals granted an administrative stay on October 29 pausing the daily appearance requirement while the court considers the Justice Department's argument that the order "significantly interferes" with enforcing immigration laws.
The increased oversight stemmed from alleged violations of the judge's October 9 temporary restraining order restricting agents' use of force against protesters, journalists, and clergy. Video evidence showed Bovino throwing tear gas canisters at protesters on October 24 without giving required warnings. The judge expressed particular concern about an October 26 incident where agents deployed tear gas in the Old Irving Park neighborhood while children were walking to a Halloween parade, stating that "these kids, their sense of safety was shattered."
Justice Department Hires Immigration Judges Following Layoffs
The Department of Justice’s Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) hired 36 new judges on October 27. Of the judges hired, 11 are permanent hires and 25 are temporary hires, and they will be placed in courts across 16 states. States that have seen significant losses of immigration judges, such as Massachusetts and Chicago, have also seen judges hired into their respective courts. These Department of Justice (DOJ) described the hires as part of an "immigration judge corps that is committed to upholding the rule of law." The hired judges come from an array of backgrounds, from different branches of the U.S. Military to federal government branches such as the Department of Homeland Security.
This hiring phase comes after losing more than 125 judges from "firings and voluntary resignations" over the past 10 months, and down from 700 total judges from the start of 2025. The firing of immigration judges continues throughout the country, and 24 immigration judges were fired this past September alone, including an immigration judge in Seattle hired during the Biden Administration who had less than "favorable" rulings towards immigrants. A DOJ August memo stated that judges will face punishment if they do not comply and have their rulings align with the administration.
State and Local
Governor DeSantis Directs Florida Universities to End the Use of H-1B Visas
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced a directive for state universities to cease hiring foreign workers under H-1B visa programs. The H-1B visa program allows U.S. employers to temporarily employ foreign workers in specialty occupations requiring theoretical or technical expertise. Universities have traditionally used these visas to hire international faculty, researchers, and specialized staff members across various academic departments and research programs. Governor DeSantis's directive applies to Florida's state university system, which includes major institutions such as the University of Florida, Florida State University, and Florida International University. Nearly 400 foreign nationals are currently employed at Florida’s public universities under the
H-1B visa program.
LEGISLATIVE FLOOR CALENDAR
The U.S. Senate will be in session from Monday, November 3, through Friday, November 7. The U.S. House of Representatives will be in session from Tuesday, November 4, through Thursday, November 6.
SPOTLIGHT ON FORUM RESOURCES
The Forum is constantly publishing new policy-focused resources that engage with some of the most topical issues around immigration today. Here are a few that are particularly relevant this week:
Our resource provides an analysis of the executive order suspending the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program indefinitely, explaining how the order represents a significant departure from nearly five decades of federal refugee policy established under the Refugee Act of 1980.
Our new explainer details the September 24, 2025 DHS proposed rule that would replace the H-1B visa's random lottery system with a weighted selection process favoring higher-wage applicants, which could disadvantage entry-level positions, smaller employers, and international graduates.
Our explainer analyzes President Trump's September 19, 2025, Presidential Proclamation that introduces a $100,000 "visa integrity fee" for H-1B visa applications. The resource details the policy's impact on employers who may relocate operations abroad and on foreign workers facing fewer opportunities and increased uncertainty.
*As of publication (10/31/25 at 3:30PM EST)
This Bulletin is not intended to be comprehensive. Please contact Nicci Mattey, Senior Policy & Advocacy Associate at the Forum, with questions, comments, and suggestions for additional items to be included. Nicci can be reached at [email protected]. Thank you.
