Community Update: Immigration Memo regarding “Adjustment of Status”
Thursday, May 28, 2026
Many of you may have seen the news about a new United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) policy memo released last week (PM-602-0199) regarding Adjustment of Status (AOS). The memo seeks to heighten scrutiny and restrict access to this process for immigrant communities.
At Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Atlanta, we want to share an update on what this may mean.
Please note that policies like this are intentionally designed to cause fear, doubt, and confusion. Our collective response must be to stay grounded and remain informed as reliable legal advice develops.
Adjustment of Status (AOS) is the legal process through which eligible individuals already in the United States can apply for lawful permanent residency (a green card) without having to leave the country and go through consular processing abroad.
The new policy memo fundamentally shifts the agency’s position by emphasizing that this process is not guaranteed, even for individuals who meet all the requirements. Instead, the memo describes AOS as an act of “administrative grace” that the government can grant or deny at its discretion.
How the agency will actually implement the policy remains to be seen.
Most concerningly, the memo frames AOS as an “extraordinary” form of relief rather than the longstanding, routine pathway that hundreds of thousands of eligible immigrants have relied on for decades to seek permanent residency safely from within the United States.
The South is home to the fastest-growing AAPI community in the nation. Families are moving here, launching businesses, and planting deep, vibrant roots in the region. However, immigrants in the South already navigate a uniquely complex environment, often marked by restrictive policies, severe language access barriers, and a scarce network of affordable immigration legal resources.
This memo is the latest systemic effort to weaponize administrative bureaucracy, deliberately creating more uncertainty and anxiety for our communities. As we navigate this together, here’s what we want our community to know right now, with the understanding that this does not constitute legal advice:
Speak with a trusted and licensed immigration attorney before taking any legal action, making decisions about your immigration case, or submitting applications. You can find an immigration attorney through AILA's Immigration Lawyer Search.
Beware of individuals claiming to be attorneys, notarios, or consultants who promise guaranteed immigration outcomes.
Be cautious of misinformation, speculation, and immigration fraud circulating online and within communities.
Every case is different, and decisions should be made with trusted counsel, accurate information, not fear.
Advancing Justice-Atlanta is working alongside our affiliation, partners, and organizations to closely monitor the implementation of this memo, and we will continue to defend the rights of our communities.
Asian Americans Advancing Justice Atlanta is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the civil rights of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI), and other marginalized communities in Georgia and the Southeast. Visit advancingjustice-atlanta.org.
