The Trump administration has quietly paused the processing of green card applications for certain immigrants, including approved refugees and asylum seekers. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) directed officials to halt the processing of legal permanent residency requests from individuals granted refugee or asylum status. This move aimed at tightening immigration vetting, will temporarily leave many immigrants in legal limbo, despite their previous successful applications for protection due to potential persecution in their home countries.
The decision is part of a broader effort to comply with President Trump’s executive actions, which require more thorough vetting of immigrants to address national security and fraud concerns. Refugees and asylum seekers already undergo extensive security checks before entering the U.S., but the administration now seeks additional screening, including the review of social media accounts as part of the identity verification process.
This pause is the latest in a series of actions by the Trump administration to limit legal immigration, following the suspension of refugee processing and changes to the asylum system. The move reflects ongoing concerns about immigration fraud and national security risks, with the administration citing the need for enhanced vetting procedures to prevent potential threats. For more information on this, and other immigration matters, contact the attorneys a Prime Path Immigration Law Firm Limited USA.
References:
Montoya-Galvez, Camilo. Sganga, Nicole. “Trump administration pauses some green card applications as part of aggressive vetting effort” March 25, 2025.
