President Trump’s administration just fired a major shot in the immigration battle, halting certain green card applications in what supporters call a necessary national security measure and critics decry as yet another roadblock for those seeking refuge in America.
At a glance:
• The Trump administration has paused processing certain green card applications for refugees and asylum seekers who entered under Biden’s policies
• USCIS cited the need for “maximum vetting” of immigrants from high-risk regions in accordance with Executive Order 14161
• The pause affects potentially thousands of applicants who have already undergone initial vetting processes
• Refugees and asylum seekers typically wait one year before applying for green cards, with current processing times already at 8-10 months
• The directive is part of broader immigration reform measures that also include enhanced social media screening and revoking temporary status for over 500,000 migrants
Trump Administration Tightens Immigration Controls
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has implemented a temporary pause on finalizing certain green card applications to comply with President Donald Trump’s Executive Order mandating maximum vetting of immigrants. The directive specifically targets applications from refugees and asylum seekers who were admitted during the Biden administration and whom many believe have no genuine claim to asylum in the US.
The Executive Order, promised by Trump to keep America safe, directs officials to “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.”
Impact on Thousands of Applicants
The processing halt affects at least 67,800 asylum seekers and nearly 40,000 refugees who filed applications between October 2023 and September 2024. These individuals say they have experienced persecution in their home countries and already navigated complex asylum or refugee processes.
USCIS, which is primarily funded through application fees, had recently made progress in reducing its backlog of petitions, achieving a 15% reduction in 2023. The new vetting requirements could potentially increase processing times and add to financial challenges within the agency, which previously faced a $1.2 billion shortfall in 2020 due in part to increased vetting.
Broader Immigration Reforms Underway
The green card processing pause is just one element of Trump’s immigration policy overhaul. The administration has also announced plans to revoke the temporary protected status of approximately 530,000 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans.
President Trump issued several immigration-related Executive Orders following his inauguration, focusing on border security, asylum reform, deportation procedures, and changes to birthright citizenship. The administration has also established “federal homeland security task forces” designed to enhance coordination between different law enforcement agencies.
Critics from immigrant advocacy organizations are concerned about the green card processing pause, with the National Immigrant Justice Center’s Director of Policy Azadeh Erfani calling it “yet another attempt for this administration to baselessly paint all immigrants as a national security risk.”
