HHS/ORR proposed tighter sponsor-vetting rules for unaccompanied children.

On June 26, 2026, HHS/ORR published a proposed rule that would significantly tighten sponsor-suitability checks for unaccompanied children. The proposal would add or strengthen requirements around proof of sponsor identity, proof of income, background checks, placement assessment, and fraud-prevention screening. ORR also proposes authority to examine children for visible gang-related or criminal-organization tattoos, markings, or branding. Comments are due August 25, 2026. The practical effect: releases to sponsors may become slower and more document-heavy, especially where sponsors lack stable income records or where household-member background checks raise issues. Unaccompanied Children Program Foundational Rule

DHS/USCIS proposed major naturalization fee increases.

On June 23, 2026, DHS proposed increasing the filing fees for Form N-400 naturalization applications and Form N-336 hearing requests after naturalization denials. The proposed paper N-400 fee would rise from $760 to $1,330, while the online N-400 would rise from $710 to $1,280. DHS also proposes eliminating the reduced-fee option and fee-waiver availability for N-400 and N-336, while keeping exemptions for qualifying current and former military service members. Comments are due August 24, 2026. This would materially raise the cost of citizenship for lower-income applicants and could make timing important for eligible clients. Naturalization Application Fee Adjustments

Supreme Court narrowed asylum access for people still outside the U.S. border.

On June 25, 2026, the Supreme Court decided Mullin v. Al Otro Lado. The Court held that a person standing in Mexico has not “arrived in the United States” for purposes of asylum-processing rights merely by presenting at or approaching the border. The Court concluded that the statutory right to apply for asylum and the inspection duties at the border are triggered only once the person crosses into the United States. The decision is a major win for the government on port-of-entry control and border-metering authority. Supreme Court opinion in Mullin v. Al Otro Lado

Supreme Court allowed TPS terminations for Haiti and Syria to proceed during litigation

Also on June 25, 2026, the Supreme Court ruled in the consolidated TPS cases involving Haiti and Syria. The Court held that challengers were not entitled to orders postponing the TPS terminations while litigation continued. It emphasized that the TPS statute bars many nonconstitutional challenges to designation and termination decisions, and it found the equal-protection theory unlikely to succeed at this stage. Practically, this strengthens DHS’s ability to move forward with TPS termination decisions unless challengers can identify a stronger constitutional or statutory pathway. Supreme Court opinion in the consolidated TPS cases

Supreme Court strengthened the government’s position against returning LPRs with criminal issues

On June 23, 2026, the Supreme Court decided Blanche v. Muk Choi Lau. The Court held that the INA does not require a border officer to have clear-and-convincing evidence that a lawful permanent resident committed a crime involving moral turpitude before treating the person as an applicant for admission. The government still must meet its burden in removal proceedings, but the decision removes an additional evidentiary hurdle at the port-of-entry stage. For permanent residents with old or unresolved criminal issues, this increases the risk of being placed into admission/removal proceedings after international travel. Supreme Court opinion in Blanche v. Muk Choi Lau