 announced the decision to comply with two executive orders signed by President Donald Trump on January 20, which call for stricter vetting of individuals applying for legal permanent residency. The two executive orders, titled “Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats” and “Designating Cartels And Other Organisations As Foreign Terrorist Organizations And Specially Designated Global Terrorists,” mandate heightened scrutiny of foreign nationals residing in or entering the US. The first order specifically requires officials 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.” This directive is expected to impact thousands of immigrants, including those from India, who are currently in the Green Card process. The second order aims to crack down on transnational criminal groups, such as Tren de Aragua (TdA) and La Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13), which the US government considers major threats to national security. By pausing certain Green Card applications, the administration intends to ensure that individuals with potential security risks do not gain legal residency in the country. Among those most affected by the policy shift are refugees and individuals granted asylum in the US who have applied for Green Cards. According to CBS News, USCIS is conducting additional background checks on these individuals, even though they have already undergone extensive screening before being admitted to the country. Under US immigration laws, refugees and asylees can apply for a Green Card after spending at least one year in the country. However, with the new policy in place, those who had already submitted their applications will have to go through further vetting, which could lead to prolonged processing times. A spokesperson from the Department of Homeland Security confirmed to NBC News that the agency is “placing a temporary pause on finalising certain adjustment of status applications pending the completion of additional screening and vetting.” However, the government has not specified how long this suspension will last. Between October 2023 and September 2024, approximately 67,800 Green Card applications were filed by asylum seekers, with nearly 40,000 submitted by refugees, as per data quoted by Newsweek. Before the temporary suspension, the processing times for these applications averaged 10 months for asylum seekers and eight months for refugees. Now, these applicants are expected to face further delays. The revised vetting process will require applicants to undergo another round of scrutiny, despite having already submitted extensive documentation. This means that immigration officials will re-examine their backgrounds, including social media history, financial records, and prior applications. Immigration experts believe the new directive reflects the Trump administration’s previous approach to immigration. Laura Collins, director of the Bush Institute-SMU Economic Growth Initiative at the George W. Bush Institute, noted that during Trump’s first term, USCIS officials reviewed applications “with a fine-toothed comb.” “So if you didn’t have a middle name … they would send your application back and say, ‘Well, you didn’t fill in your middle name portion,’” Collins explained to NBC News. She added that authorities are likely revisiting applicants’ social media and other records, ensuring that no details are overlooked. As a result of the increased scrutiny, immigration lawyers expect more Green Card rejections due to minor errors or omissions in applications. With no clear timeline for when the pause will be lifted, thousands of applicants now face uncertainty regarding their future in the United States. For More Interesting News Follow Us on Instagram){kind=link}
The Trump administration has quickly halted the processing of sure Inexperienced Card purposes, a transfer that has raised issues amongst immigrants, significantly the Indian-American group.
The US Citizenship and Immigration Providers (USCIS) introduced the choice to adjust to two govt orders signed by President Donald Trump on January 20, which name for stricter vetting of people making use of for authorized everlasting residency.
The 2 govt orders, titled “Defending the USA from Overseas Terrorists and Different Nationwide Safety and Public Security Threats” and “Designating Cartels And Different Organisations As Overseas Terrorist Organizations And Specifically Designated International Terrorists,” mandate heightened scrutiny of international nationals residing in or coming into the US.
The primary order particularly requires officers to “vet and display screen to the utmost diploma attainable all aliens who intend to be admitted, enter, or are already inside the USA, significantly these aliens coming from areas or nations with recognized safety dangers.” This directive is anticipated to influence 1000’s of immigrants, together with these from India, who’re presently within the Inexperienced Card course of.
The second order goals to crack down on transnational felony teams, corresponding to Tren de Aragua (TdA) and La Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13), which the US authorities considers main threats to nationwide safety.
By pausing sure Inexperienced Card purposes, the administration intends to make sure that people with potential safety dangers don’t acquire authorized residency within the nation.
Amongst these most affected by the coverage shift are refugees and people granted asylum within the US who’ve utilized for Inexperienced Playing cards.
In response to CBS Information, USCIS is conducting further background checks on these people, though they’ve already undergone intensive screening earlier than being admitted to the nation.
Below US immigration legal guidelines, refugees and asylees can apply for a Inexperienced Card after spending at the very least one yr within the nation. Nevertheless, with the brand new coverage in place, those that had already submitted their purposes should undergo additional vetting, which may result in extended processing instances.
A spokesperson from the Division of Homeland Safety confirmed to NBC Information that the company is “putting a brief pause on finalising sure adjustment of standing purposes pending the completion of further screening and vetting.” Nevertheless, the federal government has not specified how lengthy this suspension will final.
Between October 2023 and September 2024, roughly 67,800 Inexperienced Card purposes have been filed by asylum seekers, with almost 40,000 submitted by refugees, as per information quoted by Newsweek.
Earlier than the momentary suspension, the processing instances for these purposes averaged 10 months for asylum seekers and eight months for refugees. Now, these candidates are anticipated to face additional delays.
The revised vetting course of would require candidates to endure one other spherical of scrutiny, regardless of having already submitted intensive documentation. Because of this immigration officers will re-examine their backgrounds, together with social media historical past, monetary data, and prior purposes.
Immigration consultants consider the brand new directive displays the Trump administration’s earlier method to immigration. Laura Collins, director of the Bush Institute-SMU Financial Progress Initiative on the George W. Bush Institute, famous that in Trump’s first time period, USCIS officers reviewed purposes “with a fine-toothed comb.”
“So in case you didn’t have a center title … they’d ship your software again and say, ‘Effectively, you didn’t fill in your center title portion,’” Collins defined to NBC Information. She added that authorities are seemingly revisiting candidates’ social media and different data, making certain that no particulars are missed.
On account of the elevated scrutiny, immigration attorneys anticipate extra Inexperienced Card rejections as a consequence of minor errors or omissions in purposes. With no clear timeline for when the pause might be lifted, 1000’s of candidates now face uncertainty concerning their future in the USA.
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