By Raul Pinto and Jennifer Coberly
On March 25, news reports surfaced that the Trump administration imposed a suspension in the processing of certain green card applications. The news reports stated that a U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) official confirmed the suspension. The agency said the suspension applied to people who entered the country as refugees or were granted asylum in the United States. Additionally, the DHS official claimed that the suspension was temporary so that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)—the DHS subagency in charge of processing and deciding whether to approve or deny green card applications—could conduct additional vetting of these applicants pursuant to President Trump’s January 20 Executive Order mandating enhanced vetting to be applied to individuals seeking visas or other immigration benefits.
Unfortunately, those limited comments were the only information available about this major policy shift. The sudden pause in processing raised questions regarding why DHS targeted refugees and asylees applying for green cards for enhanced vetting.
As a result, the American Immigration Council and the American Immigration Lawyers Association filed requests for government documents under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) on April 8 to provide the public more information about this suspension and whether or not enhanced vetting is being applied to the refugees and asylees at issue, and why these groups were targeted. The organizations sought records from key public officials at DHS and USCIS about DHS’ press statement announcing the suspension, as well as records instructing the agencies’ staff on the suspension’s implementation and new vetting procedures.
A green card application, also known as an application for adjustment of status, is a crucial step in an individual’s immigration journey. If approved, the applicant attains legal permanent residence in the United States. Permanent residence puts an immigrant on a path to U.S. citizenship and carries higher levels of protection from deportation.
Refugees must pass through an arduous and often uncertain process to even get to the point where they can apply for a green card. Prior to their arrival, people seeking to enter the United States as refugees must show they have a fear of persecution in their home country on account of a protected reason, i.e. race, nationality, religion, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. During the refugee admissions process, applicants go through extensive vetting for issues like criminal history or ties to terrorist organizations.
Asylees must meet the same requirements as refugees, but they are granted such status during removal proceedings in immigration courts or through affirmative applications with USCIS. In both instances, applicants are fingerprinted so the government can thoroughly vet their applications.
Once an immigration court, or USCIS, grants an individual asylee status, the asylee can apply for permanent residence one year after such grant. Likewise, refugees can apply for their green cards one year after having arrived in the United States as refugees.
The lack of details about the suspension of processing green card applications for asylees and refugees, who have come to the United States because of the conditions in their home countries, is concerning. Neither DHS nor USCIS published information about this suspension on agency websites, leaving the public to rely on the DHS’ statement to the press. The agencies failed to inform the public as to when USCIS would lift the suspension or if the suspension will affect other types of applicants beyond refugees and asylees.
Additionally, the reason DHS gave for the suspension is perplexing. As noted, upon taking office, President Trump issued an Executive Order mandating the implementation of enhanced vetting, and DHS’ statement to the press confirmed that the agency implemented the pause in adjudications to comply with the executive order. It is unclear, however, why the suspension in adjudicating green card applications was necessary given the fact that refugees and asylees were already subject to significant security checks prior to becoming permanent residents.
The Trump administration’s suspension is particularly harmful to this category of green card applicants. Asylees and refugees are often in vulnerable populations, generally having endured persecution in their home countries or fearing persecution if required to return. Legal permanent residency is a step towards stability in their lives. This suspension puts their applications in limbo particularly since a) USCIS has not been forthcoming about when it will reopen the processing, and b) the Trump administration has increasingly accused individuals of posing potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences to the United States and removed them for engaging in protected speech.
This processing suspension further exacerbates the delays these green card applicants are already facing. USCIS data shows that it received 92,424 green card applications in January 2025 alone. Of those, 12,394 applications were filed by individuals granted asylum or refugee status. Case processing times show that USCIS took between 14 and 15 ½ months to approve 80% of applications filed by asylees and refugees. Suspension in the processing of these tens of thousands of applications will undoubtedly increase the backlog of submissions that USCIS will need to review when the suspension is lifted, and the delays could be staggering.
The public needs further clarity as to why DHS and USCIS targeted particularly vulnerable populations and how DHS and USCIS plan to implement this suspension. The suspension will likely lead to extreme delays or denials of green cards for asylees and refugees with little explanation to the American people or the applicants.
FILED UNDER: Department of Homeland Security, green card, Trump administration, USCIS
