Subjects
Discretion
Discretion in immigration law is the authority of judges and officials to grant or deny certain benefits or relief based on the facts and equities of a case, even when a person meets the basic requirements.
Related articles
-
Prosecutorial Discretion in Immigration Court: What It Is and Where It Stands Now
How ICE prosecutors use discretion in immigration court (dismissal, termination, administrative closure) and the policy in force as of 2026.
-
Waivers of Inadmissibility: Forgiving What Blocks a Green Card
A ground of inadmissibility can block a visa or green card, but a waiver may forgive it. How the main waivers work and the extreme hardship standard.
-
Good Moral Character: What It Means in Immigration Law
Naturalization and other relief require good moral character. The statutory bars, the permanent aggravated-felony bar, and the fact-specific catch-all.
-
Aggravated Felony: The Immigration Term That Isn't What It Sounds Like
In immigration law, aggravated felony is a defined list, and a minor conviction can qualify. What it covers, the one-year threshold, and its severity.
-
Registry: A Green Card for Very Long-Term Residents
Registry is a little-known path to a green card for people in the U.S. since before 1972. We explain what the law requires and why the date matters.
-
USCIS Adds Social-Media Vetting Factor
USCIS will weigh anti-American, terrorist-affiliated, or antisemitic activity as a negative factor and expanded social-media vetting. What it means.





