CAIR Demands USCIS Rescind 'Israel-First' Immigration Policy Threatening Palestinian Rights and Free Speech

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has called on U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to immediately rescind a new policy that threatens both immigration benefits and the First Amendment rights of immigrant communities, particularly those advocating for Palestinian human rights. The policy, Policy Alert PA-2025-16, was released on August 19, and instructs officers to treat as an "overwhelmingly negative" factor any applicant alleged to have "endorsed, promoted, supported, or otherwise espoused" the views of so-called "anti-American ideologies" or groups, including those labeled as tied to "antisemitic terrorism." This guidance applies to a wide range of benefits, including adjustment of status, extensions and changes of status, employment authorization, student reinstatement, national interest waivers, and EB-5 petitions.

Key Takeaways:

• CAIR has demanded that USCIS rescind the new policy, Policy Alert PA-2025-16, citing its threat to both immigration benefits and the First Amendment rights of immigrant communities.
• The policy labels any applicant who endorses or promotes views tied to "antisemitic terrorism" or "anti-American ideologies" as having an "overwhelmingly negative" factor, applying to a wide range of benefits.
• CAIR warns that these vague, politically charged standards will be used to punish Palestinians, Muslims, Arabs, and their allies for engaging in protected advocacy, including criticism of Israel's genocide in Gaza and apartheid policies.
• The policy risks denying benefits to those who support boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) campaigns as a lawful, nonviolent means of advancing Palestinian rights.
• CAIR is urging USCIS to rescind the policy, Congress to investigate and block the use of immigration law as a political weapon, and the administration to guarantee that opposition to genocide is never grounds for denying immigration benefits.
• CAIR is monitoring the implementation of this policy and encouraging individuals experiencing discriminatory treatment to report cases immediately.

Statistics:

• The policy applies to a wide range of benefits, including adjustment of status, extensions and changes of status, employment authorization, student reinstatement, national interest waivers, and EB-5 petitions.
• According to CAIR, the policy targets Palestinian, Muslim, Arab, and allied communities for engaging in protected advocacy, including criticism of Israel's actions.

Sources:

• Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)
• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
• CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert S. McCaw
• CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell
• CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper
• CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison