USCIS freezes green card processing for refugees as part of aggressive vetting strategy

The Trump administration has quietly halted the processing of certain green card applications, including those filed by approved refugees, as part of a broader initiative to intensify immigration vetting.

Multiple sources familiar with the move revealed to CBS News that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) instructed officials to suspend the processing of permanent residency requests from immigrants who have been granted refugee or asylum status, per Caliber.Az.

This temporary pause places refugees, who were granted entry into the U.S. after a rigorous security screening process, in a state of legal limbo. Refugees are vetted through an exhaustive process that includes security checks, medical screenings, and interviews, which can span several years. Similarly, asylum seekers in the U.S. are granted protection after proving they could face persecution in their home countries due to their political views, race, religion, or other characteristics.

The suspension of processing is part of a larger effort by the Trump administration to tighten immigration controls and enhance vetting procedures. USCIS stated that the pause is necessary to align with two executive actions signed by President Trump, one of which questions the vetting practices under the Biden administration.

In a statement, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed the green card processing pause, emphasizing that it is meant to comply with Trump’s executive orders. The DHS stated, “USCIS is placing a temporary pause on finalizing certain Adjustment of Status applications pending the completion of additional screening and vetting to identify potential fraud, public safety, or national security concerns.” The "Adjustment of Status" process refers to the legal procedure for applying for a green card.

Trump’s first executive order directed federal agencies to thoroughly vet and screen all individuals intending to enter or remain in the U.S. The second order enabled the State Department to designate Mexican cartels and gangs like Tren de Aragua as foreign terrorist organizations.

This move follows a series of actions by the Trump administration to restrict legal immigration under the guise of national security and fraud prevention. Recently, the administration paused all immigration applications from Latin American and Ukrainian immigrants who had arrived under two Biden-era programs that used humanitarian parole, citing similar concerns.

Additionally, the administration announced it would give migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela who arrived under the programs 30 days to self-deport or face arrest and deportation, claiming these individuals were “loosely vetted.”

Trump officials have also unveiled plans to increase scrutiny of immigrants’ social media accounts as part of the vetting process for legal status applications, including green cards and U.S. citizenship. USCIS stated that social media vetting is now a necessary part of “enhanced identity verification, vetting, and national security screening.”

While USCIS has long reviewed the social media of applicants for certain immigration benefits, the new directive mandates that applicants submit their social media handles for government review. This heightened surveillance marks the latest development in the administration’s campaign to tighten immigration procedures.

By Tamilla Hasanova