U.S. Immigration Policy: Current Challenges in Eastern Europe and Armenia

Abstract: U.S. immigration policy has undergone significant transformation in recent years, reflecting global challenges related to mobility, security, labor markets, and humanitarian protection. These changes are particularly salient for Eastern Europe and the Republic of Armenia, where migration is shaped by historical legacies, post-socialist transitions, economic inequalities, and strong diasporic ties. This article examines contemporary U.S. immigration policy with a focus on legal migration pathways, asylum and refugee restrictions, and intensified enforcement measures under the second administration of President Donald Trump. Adopting an intercultural and humanistic perspective, the study analyzes the implications of these policies for Armenian and Eastern European diasporas, especially regarding family reunification, cultural transmission, and transnational belonging. Through a comparative lens that contrasts U.S. approaches with European migration frameworks, the article highlights the broader cultural, social, and geopolitical consequences of increasingly restrictive immigration governance for transatlantic relations and regional development. The analysis contributes to ongoing debates on migration policy, diaspora sustainability, and integration in pluralistic societies.