Council and AILA Submit FOIA Request Seeking Information on Trump Administration Suspension of Green Card Applications
On March 25, 2025, media reports surfaced indicating U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)—the agency in charge of approving green card applications—stopped processing green card applications filed by asylees and refugees. The suspension would affect refugees, which the U.S. government has already vetted and authorized to enter the country, as well as asylees, who are also vetted during their immigration court or administrative proceedings. In its statement to the press, DHS said that the suspension was a temporary and necessary measure to conduct additional “vetting” of the applicants. However, neither DHS nor USCIS gave further details about the suspension of processing applications and the public has little information about this new policy.
The American Immigration Council and the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) filed requests under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) with both DHS and USCIS to inform the public about this suspension. The requests seek:
- Agency communications about the suspension.
- Records providing guidance to USCIS personnel on how to implement the suspension.
- 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.
Records obtained as a result of this request will help applicants, their attorneys, and the public understand why the Trump administration stopped processing these applications and how long the suspension will last. Additionally, given the lack of information about the suspension, the Council and AILA expect to uncover whether the suspension applies to specific countries and if the suspension will impact other types of green card applicants.
