Inspección reforzada en consulados y puertos de entrada a Estados Unidos: Lo que debe saber
Juliana LaMendola • April 25, 2025
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En los últimos meses, el gobierno estadounidense ha intensificado sus procedimientos de investigación
para las personas que desean entrar en Estados Unidos, ya sea a través de solicitudes de visado en el extranjero o de inspecciones en los puertos de entrada. Este cambio, priorizado por la actual administración, está teniendo un impacto notable en inmigrantes, titulares de visados e incluso residentes legales permanentes (LPR por sus siglas en inglés).
En los consulados estadounidenses de todo el mundo, los solicitantes están experimentando un aumento de los retrasos, a menudo se colocan en el procesamiento administrativo en virtud de la Sección 221 (g) o se remiten a las Opiniones de Asesoramiento de Seguridad (SAO por sus siglas en inglés), que pueden prolongar significativamente la expedición de visados. Los funcionarios están llevando a cabo revisiones más exhaustivas de los antecedentes de los solicitantes, incluidos sus historiales de viajes, cuentas en redes sociales y vínculos en el extranjero. Este escrutinio se aplica a una amplia gama de categorías de visados, desde visados de visitante a peticiones basadas en el empleo. Es importante destacar que los funcionarios están ejerciendo una mayor discrecionalidad
a la hora de decidir quién cumple los requisitos para obtener un visado, lo que hace que el proceso sea más impredecible, incluso para los solicitantes con casos sólidos.
Este control reforzado no termina en el consulado. Las personas que entran en Estados Unidos -incluso las que tienen visados o tarjetas de residencia válidos- están cada vez más sujetas a inspecciones secundarias prolongadas
por parte del Servicio de Aduanas y Protección de Fronteras (CBP por sus siglas en ingles). Los agentes pueden hacer preguntas detalladas sobre antecedentes de inmigración, pautas de viaje y actividad en las redes sociales. En algunos casos, se pide a los viajeros que accedan a sus dispositivos electrónicos para inspeccionarlos más a fondo. También hay cada vez más informes de viajeros que son remitidos a una inspección diferida o incluso se les emite un aviso de comparecencia (NTA, por sus siglas en inglés)
para un procedimiento de expulsión, a pesar de haber entrado previamente de forma legal.
Aunque algunas de estas prácticas ya existían en el pasado, la actual administración las ha formalizado y ampliado. Los expertos advierten de que podrían surgir nuevas restricciones de viaje o prohibiciones selectivas
como parte de las prioridades de aplicación de la administración. En el caso de los solicitantes de empleo, estos retrasos y complicaciones pueden afectar gravemente a las empresas estadounidenses y a los ciudadanos extranjeros que aportan cualificaciones esenciales a la economía de Estados Unidos.
Es más importante que nunca estar bien preparado
antes de acudir a una entrevista para obtener un visado o viajar al extranjero. Entender sus derechos y prepararse a fondo puede ayudarle a navegar este panorama incierto. En Santos Lloyd Law Firm, P.C., nuestros abogados de inmigración están listos para guiarlo a través de este proceso en evolución y asegurarse de que esté informado, apoyado y protegido. Por favor contáctenos si tiene preguntas o necesita ayuda.
Este blog no pretende ser una asesoría legal y nada aquí debe interpretarse como el establecimiento de una relación abogado-cliente. Programe una consulta con un abogado de inmigración antes de actuar sobre cualquier información que aquí lea
On January 14, 2026, the Trump administration announced a freeze on immigrant visa issuance for nationals of 75 countries . The administration states that this “visa freeze” is intended to review security protocols, “reduce risks,” and control immigration flows. However, the immediate reality is that this change in policy has temporarily suspended visa processing and restricted travel for applicants from numerous countries across the globe. While the legal landscape surrounding these suspensions is highly fluid and subject to change, it is important to consider how this “visa freeze” might impact your current status or immigration plans. The scope of the restrictions varies drastically depending on your country of origin and specific visa category. Most notably, a nationality-based travel ban restricts visa issuance for 19 countries : Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela. Beyond this targeted ban, a broader freeze affects applicants from a designated list of up to 75 countries, leading to indefinite delays for many visa petitions. However, it is important to note that immigrant visa applications first need to be processed through USCIS, which has not paused processing applications from the 75 countries. Thus, it is important to contact an attorney to understand at what point in the process this visa freeze may affect your case. While Brazil is included in the list of 75 countries, at the time of this publication, the freeze does not include non-immigrant visas for Brazil . Non-immigrant visas are granted to foreign nationals seeking to enter the United States on a temporary basis for specific purposes, such as tourism, studying, or temporary work. This means that Brazilian applicants can still safely pursue non-immigrant employment options, such as O visas for individuals with extraordinary ability or P visas for internationally recognized athletes, without being subjected to the current travel bans or suspensions. This alert is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. There are many changes and uncertainties, so please consult with a qualified attorney at Santos Lloyd Law Firm, P.C. to understand how these evolving policies might affect your specific case
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In recent weeks, the U.S. government has moved to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for multiple countries, sparking a wave of last-minute litigation and creating significant uncertainty for beneficiaries. This shift is having a profound impact on those who rely on TPS for lawful presence and work authorization in the United States. Across the country, federal courts have intervened to pause or block scheduled TPS terminations for several countries, including Burma (Myanmar), Ethiopia, Haiti, South Sudan, and Syria. In response to these court orders, USCIS has updated its webpages to indicate that TPS status and related Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) are extended for these populations. However, USCIS is intentionally not providing specific new end dates for EAD validity while the litigation remains in flux. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has prominently noted that it "vehemently disagrees" with these court orders and is actively working with the Department of Justice on next steps. This legal landscape remains highly unpredictable and varies drastically depending on the country of origin. For example, on February 9, 2026, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals granted a stay allowing the government to proceed with the termination of TPS for Nicaragua, Honduras, and Nepal while the underlying legal challenges continue. Because of this ruling, the automatic extension of work authorization for these individuals has ended, and employers are now required to reverify the work authorization of affected employees, who must present alternative valid documentation to continue their employment. These rapid changes and the lack of clear end dates are causing complications beyond the workplace. Because driver's licenses often track the length of an individual's authorized stay, many DMVs are currently declining to issue or renew driver's licenses for impacted TPS populations. For employers, managing internal communications, avoiding onboarding errors, and navigating Form I-9 compliance has become increasingly complex. It is more important than ever to be well-prepared and proactive in monitoring these rapid changes. At Santos Lloyd Law Firm, P.C., our immigration attorneys are ready to guide you through this evolving process and ensure you are informed, and supported. Please contact us if you have questions or need assistance.
