The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), a branch of the Department of Homeland Security, has announced a temporary suspension of green card application processing. This decision aligns with an executive order signed by President Donald Trump on January 20, titled “Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats.” The order mandates that agencies “vet and screen to the maximum degree possible all aliens who intend to be admitted, enter, or are already inside the United States, particularly those aliens coming from regions or nations with identified security risks.”
According to a statement from USCIS, the pause is intended to allow for further vetting of applicants seeking legal permanent residency. Reports indicate that USCIS staff have been instructed to conduct additional vetting for refugees and asylum seekers who have applied for green cards. A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security confirmed the temporary hold on finalizing certain adjustment status applications pending the completion of this additional screening.
While the statement did not specify which applications would be affected or how long the pause would last, experts note that refugees and asylum seekers often undergo rigorous vetting processes before entering the U.S. Laura Collins, director of the Bush Institute-SMU Economic Growth Initiative, emphasized that individuals granted asylum must wait one year before applying for green cards, and many have already been subjected to extensive documentation checks.
Collins also pointed out that during Trump’s first term, USCIS implemented strict measures, ensuring every application was meticulously reviewed, which led to operational disruptions within the agency.
Family Immigration Attorney Aileen Ligot Dizon expressed her concerns regarding the temporary suspension of green card processing by USCIS. She stated, “While we understand the importance of national security measures, this pause presents significant challenges for applicants. This is particularly true for refugees and asylum seekers who have already gone through rigorous vetting processes. For example, I have a refugee client who has been waiting over a year to apply for a green card, and now they are facing indefinite delays.”
Dizon emphasized the need for transparency during this period of uncertainty, saying, “It’s crucial for USCIS to provide clear guidelines on which cases are affected and the expected timelines. This will help maintain the integrity of lawful immigration pathways and provide reassurance to those who are waiting.”
The Migration Policy Institute reported a significant drop in application numbers in 2020, attributing this to increased spending on vetting and enforcement, which contributed to a $1.2 billion funding shortfall for USCIS. This year, the agency has reported a 15% reduction in its backlog of petitions, marking the first decrease in a decade.
Concerns remain regarding the potential impact of these pauses on USCIS operations and its ability to maintain staffing levels amid declining processing revenues.
