Marriage used to be a glide path to citizenship. Now there are more speed bumps

Marriage Once Offered a Smooth Path to Citizenship; Now, More Obstacles Loom

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Spouses of U.S. Citizens Face Heightened Scrutiny Under New Policies

The Trump administration has introduced sweeping measures to reduce the pace of legal immigration, impacting groups that were previously treated with leniency. Among them are spouses of U.S. citizens, who once had a relatively straightforward route to permanent residency. Recent changes have added layers of complexity to their journey, making the process more arduous than it was before.

These reforms include halting visas for nationals of 75 countries, intensifying checks during green card interviews, and broadening the scope of immigration enforcement. While these policies target a wide range of immigrants, they have disproportionately affected married couples, particularly those where one partner is a U.S. citizen and the other is not. Spouses, once seen as a priority for integration, now find themselves under greater scrutiny, with their applications subjected to more rigorous evaluations.

According to legal experts and reports from families affected by the changes, the situation has created a climate of fear. Many non-citizen spouses are hesitant to navigate the immigration system, worried about potential separation from their American partners or even deportation. This shift has transformed what was once a secure pathway into a more precarious one.

"Life has become a lot more difficult for Americans who are married to somebody who is not born in this country," said Ashley DeAzevedo, executive director of American Families United. "The system used to prioritize spouses, but now they're treated like all other immigrants."

DeAzevedo highlighted how the administration’s approach has disrupted the traditional support structure for married couples. Previously, spouses were seen as a priority, with streamlined processes to expedite their path to citizenship. Now, they face additional hurdles, including the risk of being detained or separated from their families. The organization has seen a surge in membership, with over 1.4 million individuals within the U.S. and 300,000 abroad seeking its assistance. Many of these individuals have opted to leave the country or delay their plans due to the uncertainty surrounding their legal status.

Sharvari Dalal-Dheini, senior director of government relations at the American Immigration Lawyers Association, noted that the government has always assessed immigrants through marriage, but the current policies have altered the approach. "Spouses of U.S. citizens have traditionally enjoyed a unique legal position," she explained. "They are not subject to the same quotas or requirements as other immigrants, and their applications have historically been expedited."

Dalal-Dheini emphasized that this special treatment was based on the assumption that married couples would be more stable and committed to the U.S. However, under the new administration, spouses are now being treated as part of a broader immigration enforcement strategy. "This group has always been considered a privileged class," she added. "Now, they're being pulled into the same scrutiny as undocumented individuals."

USCIS Defends Policy Shifts as Lawful Compliance

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has stated that its actions are in line with legal standards. In a statement to NPR, Zach Kahler, a USCIS spokesperson, argued that verifying the backgrounds of all applicants is essential to ensuring the safety of U.S. citizens. "The process prioritizes the American people by thoroughly screening all aliens," he said.

Kahler clarified that filing a marriage-based petition, such as the I-130 form, does not automatically grant legal status. "A pending or approved Form I-130 does not confer any immigration status," he noted. "Aliens must still meet the requirements of U.S. immigration laws, whether they entered through marriage or another means."

This explanation underscores the administration’s stance that spouses, like all other immigrants, must prove their eligibility. While marriage was once a clear indicator of commitment, it now requires additional validation. The result is a system where even those married to U.S. citizens must navigate the same rigorous checks as individuals without such ties.

Marriage-Based Pathways Remain Critical for Family Unions

Despite these challenges, marriage-based immigration continues to be a cornerstone of the U.S. immigration system. The latest data from the Department of Homeland Security, released in 2024, reveals that approximately 343,000 green cards were granted to individuals through their spouses — accounting for a quarter of all green card approvals. This figure has remained consistent for about a decade, fluctuating between 200,000 and 340,000 annually.

When considering other immediate family members, such as children or parents, the number of approved green cards more than doubles. This highlights the significance of family sponsorship in maintaining connections between U.S. citizens and their international relatives. However, the recent policy changes have disrupted this balance, making it harder for spouses to secure their place in the country.

The average processing time for family-based petitions has increased, with family members facing delays of up to 13 months and fiancés taking seven months on average. These wait times, which have been largely unchanged since early 2025, now feel more prolonged due to the heightened scrutiny applied to each case. For many, the wait means uncertainty, and for others, it means the risk of being separated from their loved ones.

DeAzevedo described the emotional toll of these policies, noting how families have been forced to make difficult decisions. "We’ve seen members of our organization choose self-deportation to avoid indefinite detention," she said. "This was not a common occurrence before, as spouses were always given priority in the system."

As the administration continues to refine its approach to immigration, the question remains: how will these changes affect the long-term stability of family unions? For spouses of U.S. citizens, the answer is clear — the path to citizenship, once a glide, now has more speed bumps, and the journey is far more uncertain than it once was.