DHS paused the processing of Green Cards for asylum seekers and refugees

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS)  is pausing the processing of Green Cards for asylum seekers and refugees. This directive, pushed by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), would affect both those refugees who already have permission to enter the United States, as well as those who were granted asylum after applying for protection in an immigration court.

The news was initially published by CBS News, from where they pointed out that this is the "latest move by the Trump administration to restrict, tighten and, in some cases, suspend legal immigration procedures based on national security and fraud concerns."

Despite the fact that the aforementioned groups already went through a pverification process, from the agency led by Kristi Noem precised that the process would be paused for those seeking to become permanent residents, with the objective of conducting "additional evaluations."

"To better identify fraud, public safety or national security concerns, USCIS is placing a temporary pause on finalizing certain Adjustment of Status applications pending the completion of additional screening and vetting," they noted from DHS in a statement, citing two executive orders signed by Donald Trump.

Indeed, one of the executive orders encourages relevant agencies 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."

To enter the U.S. as a refugee, those interested must demonstrate that they face some form of persecution in their home countries, whether based on political opinion, religion or race.

Back in February, the Trump Administration decided to suspend all immigration applications filed by immigrants from Latin America and Ukraine who came to the United States under two Biden-era programs. These applications were based on an authority known as "humanitarian parole."