Trump’s new green card medical test rule sparks backlash amid LA protests

The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) — the federal agency responsible for overseeing lawful immigration to the United States — announced a sudden policy change requiring all US green card (I‑485) applicants to submit a brand‑new Form I‑693, the Report of Immigration Medical Examination, even if they’d previously filed a valid one.

Under the old rule, medical exams signed on or after November 1, 2023, were indefinitely reusable. As of now, any reapplications mandate a fresh exam.

USCIS justified the change by citing "public health concerns," arguing refreshed medical exams would ensure “timely and proper examinations and treatment."

However, critics argue that this abrupt rollback adds financial burdens—each exam may now cost between $100 and $500—undermining legal immigration pathways.

Experts warn that applications already in the mail could be invalidated, catching many off guard. Matt Cameron, a Boston immigration lawyer, noted, “Time was that they would at least give you some grace period … This means that things that were in the mail this week are going to be invalid, potentially."

The revised form takes effect immediately, with the updated version becoming mandatory from July 3, 2025.

The move has ignited protests in Los Angeles, where immigrant‑rights groups—already mobilized against escalating enforcement—marched to denounce the policy as part of a broader crackdown.

Demonstrators blame the government for targeting vulnerable communities with sudden, restrictive changes.

This policy shift is part of a broader pattern of tightened immigration controls.

The Trump administration has previously shortened validity periods on medical forms and increased documentation and financial disclosure requirements, including reinstated in-person interviews and stricter public‑charge evaluations.