For 23 years, I served in the United States Army. During that time, I swore an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. I carried that oath through multiple assignments, combat service, and the sacrifices that ultimately earned me the Purple Heart. Although I am retired, my belief in the rule of law and the importance of secure borders has not changed.
That is why I support President Donald Trump’s efforts to strengthen our immigration system and enforce our nation’s immigration laws.
I also believe one important adjustment deserves consideration.
In January 2026, the Trump administration announced a policy suspending immigrant visa processing for nationals of 75 countries while additional security reviews were conducted. Protecting the American people is one of the federal government’s most important responsibilities, and I support thorough vetting of those seeking to immigrate legally.
However, I believe one group has unintentionally been caught in the middle: families who had already spent years complying with every requirement of America’s legal immigration process before the policy changed.
My wife and I chose to follow the law from the very beginning. We completed every requirement placed before us. We submitted extensive documentation, paid the required government fees, completed interviews, and patiently waited while our case progressed through the legal immigration system.
Then the rules changed. Today, our family remains separated — not because we ignored the law, but because we followed it.
Let me be clear: I am not asking that anyone be allowed to bypass our immigration laws. I am asking that those who already honored those laws be allowed to complete the legal process they began before the rules changed.
A narrowly tailored grandfather clause would accomplish exactly that.
It would not weaken border security. It would not increase immigration. It would not reward those who entered the United States illegally or ignored our immigration laws.
Instead, it would recognize the important distinction between those who followed the law in good faith and those who chose not to.
This issue extends beyond my own family. It affects American citizens, lawful permanent residents, military families, veterans, and others whose loved ones had already invested years in the legal immigration process before the policy changed.
America has always been a nation that values both security and fairness. Those principles are not mutually exclusive.
The government has every right to change policy when circumstances require it. But when citizens and families have relied on the rules established by that government, fairness sometimes requires recognizing those who acted in good faith before the change.
WHEN DID NEW YORK CITY GO FROM A MELTING POT TO AN EMPTY PAN?
That is why I respectfully ask Trump to consider a narrowly tailored grandfather clause for applicants who had already substantially progressed through the legal immigration process before the January 2026 policy change.
Such an adjustment would preserve the administration’s immigration objectives while reaffirming a principle that has long defined our nation: Those who obey the law should not be disadvantaged because the rules changed after they had already complied.
Stephen Adams is a U.S. Army First Sergeant (Ret.) and Purple Heart Medal recipient who serves as the Texas State President for the Purple Heart Riders Motorcycle Association.