On March 25, 2025, media reports surfaced indicating that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)—the agency in charge of approving green card applications and other immigration benefits—had stopped processing green card applications filed by asylees and refugees. The suspension impacts tens of thousands of individuals who fled their home countries out of fear of persecution and are now in the process of applying for their green cards to become permanent residents of the United States.
These limited statements to the press are the only information the agency has made public about this significant policy change. Due to the lack of information about this suspension, the Council and the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) filed requests for records with USCIS and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security under the Freedom of Information Act. These records will inform the public about how the agencies planned to implement the suspension and provide guidance to those who may be directly impacted by the policy change.
The request sought:
- Agency communications about the suspension;
- Records providing guidance to USCIS personnel on how to implement the suspension; and
- Records instructing USCIS personnel on the additional vetting measures the agency will now implement to people applying for their green cards as part of the change in policy.
The agencies have not responded to the request.
Due to the agencies’ failure to respond, the Council and AILA filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on June 24 to compel the agencies to release documents providing further information about the suspension.
Media reports indicated that the suspension was temporary and that it was put into effect to conduct additional vetting on these types of applications. However, the U.S. government thoroughly vets refugees and asylees during the processes to obtain such statuses, and the agencies have not informed applicants or the public how long the suspension will be in effect. The lack of information raises serious questions about the need for this suspension.
