Trump’s new American green card policy triggers turmoil amid LA riots; what has changed, documents required, and other details

The Trump administration announced an immediate policy shift on Wednesday(June 11), requiring all American green card applicants to submit a new medical examination form, even if a valid version had already been submitted.

The change affects Form I‑693, formerly known as the “Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record.” The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) stated that the medical form will no longer be valid for reuse if a green card application is withdrawn or denied, regardless of when it was completed.

Also read: LA protest 2025: Who’s fueling the unrest

What changed

Previously, under an April 2024 rule, any I‑693 signed by a civil surgeon on or after November 1, 2023, could be used indefinitely, even if the applicant later refiled or changed visa categories. That flexibility is now gone.

“We have since determined that the April 4, 2024, policy is overly broad and could potentially threaten public health in the United States,” USCIS stated, adding that the shift would ensure applicants receive “timely and proper medical examinations and treatment.”

Starting June 11, 2025, anyone reapplying for permanent residency must retake the medical exam, even if their earlier I‑693 is still recent and technically valid.

Added financial burden for applicants

Medical exams by authorized civil surgeons can cost between $100 and $500, depending on the provider and region. Immigration attorneys warn that the sudden shift could mean many applicants will need to pay again.

“Time was that they would at least give you some grace period,” said immigration attorney Matt Cameron of Boston. “This means that things that were in the mail this week are going to be invalid, potentially.”

“They have made every kind of contact with the immigration system more difficult,” Cameron added.

The change follows similar abrupt shifts earlier this year.USCIS made last-minute changes to immigration forms in March 2025, triggering lawsuits and backlash that forced the agency to provide a two-week transition period. This time, there is no such buffer.

A new version of the I‑693 form will become mandatory beginning July 3, 2025.

Bigger picture

The update comes as the Trump administration intensifies immigration enforcement. Federal agents detained Mahmoud Khalil in March, a green card holder and Columbia University graduate, citing his support for pro-Palestinian protests as grounds for deportation under national security concerns.

Other permanent residents have reportedly been detained after returning from abroad or had their green cards revoked, actions previously seen as rare but now increasingly frequent.

Though USCIS emphasizes this is about public health, critics say it's part of a pattern: adding red tape, costs, and uncertainty to discourage legal immigration.

The LA protests

This policy change also comes against the backdrop of massive immigrant rights protests in Los Angeles, where tensions are reaching a boiling point.

Over the past week, thousands have marched through downtown LA, outraged by federal immigration raids and the arrival of National Guard and Marine forces.

Protesters accuse the government of militarizing their neighborhoods and breaking up families without accountability. Community groups have since held nightly vigils, some blocking streets to protest what they call “deportation without justice.”