Significant delays in processing all types of US immigration applications are now unavoidable. This follows an unprecedented order from the Donald Trump administration to conduct a fresh review of every Green Card issued during the Biden administration to nationals from 19 specific countries labeled as 'of concern'.
Unprecedented Review Halts Asylum, Green Card Processes
The directive also mandates a re-evaluation of all asylum cases approved under the Biden administration from the same group of nations. In a sweeping move, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced an immediate hold on all asylum applications, pending a comprehensive review. This hold applies universally, not just to the 19 countries.
The administration has halted all immigration requests from the 19 nations pending this review. Furthermore, it will undertake a case-by-case re-assessment of already approved benefit requests from these countries. This could mean candidates being called for new interviews to evaluate national security, public safety threats, and other grounds for inadmissibility.
Expert Warns of 'Tremendous Effect' on Backlog
Ricky Murray, who served as chief of staff of Refugee and International Operations at USCIS until November 29, told Newsweek that such orders are without precedent. He warned that this action will drastically slow down overall immigration work, leading to a severe backlog.
"This is going to have a tremendous effect on the backlog," Murray stated. "Having to pull resources together to review hundreds of thousands of cases is going to require thousands of man-hours." He explained that these man-hours will inevitably be taken away from processing new filings, as resources within USCIS are finite. The result will be significant delays in processing any new forms in the areas from which resources are diverted.
Memo Questions Validity of Thousands of Immigrants' Benefits
Murray criticized the scope of the review, noting its unique and broad nature. "The memo is unique in that it is using a single event to call into question the validity of the benefits of thousands of immigrants, almost all who have nothing to do with this isolated event," he said.
He emphasized that immigrants from 18 of the 19 listed countries have no ties to the event that spurred the memo's release. Even among Afghans, only a very limited number have had any contact with the perpetrator of the heinous act cited.
The final outcome of this large-scale re-review remains uncertain, but its immediate impact is clear: a massive slowdown in the US immigration system that will affect applicants worldwide.
