Actually, Most Immigrants Won’t Need to Leave U.S. to Get Green Cards, D.H.S. Says NYT | Top Stories By: Hamed Aleaziz, Madeleine Ngo and Lydia DePillis 30 May 2026 at 06:39 But details remained scant after officials said last week that, with “extraordinary” exceptions, people seeking permanent residency must first leave the country. © Valerie Plesch for The New York TimesThe Department of Homeland Security appeared to make a partial walk-back of a change announced last Friday.