A former senior USCIS official has issued a stark warning about massive immigration processing delays following the Trump administration’s order to re-review all Green Cards and asylum cases approved during the Biden administration for nationals from 19 designated countries.
Quick Summary:
The Trump administration has ordered an unprecedented re-review of all Green Cards and asylum benefits issued to nationals from 19 countries during the Biden administration, prompting warnings of massive visa processing delays from former USCIS officials. Ricky Murray, former chief of staff of Refugee and International Operations at USCIS, told Newsweek that reviewing hundreds of thousands of cases will require thousands of man-hours, inevitably creating significant backlogs in processing new immigration applications.
Ex-USCIS Official Warns of Unprecedented Backlogs
Ricky Murray, who served as chief of staff of Refugee and International Operations at US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) until November 29, 2024, told Newsweek that the Trump administration’s directive is unprecedented and will significantly slow immigration processing.
“This is going to have a tremendous effect on the backlog. Having to pull resources together to review hundreds of thousands of cases is going to require thousands of man-hours,” Murray stated. “These man-hours are only going to be taken from processing of new filings.”
Murray emphasized the finite nature of USCIS resources: “There are finite resources. You can expect to see significant delays in the processing of any new forms in the area that USCIS steals the resources from to do this re-review.”
Trump Administration’s Immigration Review Orders
The Trump administration has implemented several sweeping immigration policy changes:
Immediate Asylum Application Freeze
USCIS has announced an immediate hold on all asylum requests pending comprehensive review. This freeze applies to asylum applications from all countries, not limited to the 19 designated nations.
Asylum in the United States is available to individuals who can prove they face persecution in their home country based on race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.
Green Card and Immigration Benefit Re-Review
The administration has ordered:
- Immediate halt to all immigration benefit requests from 19 countries of concern pending review
- Comprehensive re-review of all approved immigration benefits from these 19 countries issued during the Biden administration
- Case-by-case review and assessment of previously approved applications
- Potential interviews and re-interviews for approved beneficiaries to assess national security and public safety threats
- Evaluation of grounds of inadmissibility or ineligibility for all cases under review
Impact on Immigration Processing Times
The directive will significantly impact USCIS operations and processing times across all immigration categories.
Resource Allocation Concerns
Former USCIS official Murray explained that conducting hundreds of thousands of re-reviews will require massive reallocation of staff and resources currently dedicated to processing new applications.
“You can expect to see significant delays in the processing of any new forms in the area that USCIS steals the resources from to do this re-review,” Murray warned.
Effects on New Applicants
Immigration attorneys and experts predict that applicants filing new petitions will face:
- Extended processing times for employment-based Green Cards
- Delays in family-based immigration petitions
- Slower processing of naturalization applications
- Increased wait times for work permit renewals
- Backlogs in visa extensions and status changes
Which Countries Are Affected?
While the Trump administration has not publicly released the complete list of 19 countries subject to the re-review, the policy targets nations designated as “countries of concern” for national security purposes.
The re-review applies to:
- Green Card holders from these 19 countries who received approval during the Biden administration
- Asylum seekers from these countries who were granted asylum under the previous administration
- Other immigration benefit recipients from the designated countries
Criticism of the Policy
Murray strongly criticized the scope and justification for the policy.
“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,” Murray said.
He noted that “immigrants of 18 of the 19 countries have no ties to this event, and even a very limited number of Afghans have ever even had contact with the perpetrator of the heinous event spurring this release of this memo.”
What Green Card Holders Should Know
Current Green Card holders from the 19 designated countries should:
- Maintain all immigration documentation and approval notices
- Keep records of employment, residence, and travel history
- Be prepared for potential interview requests from USCIS
- Consult with immigration attorneys about their specific cases
- Monitor USCIS communications closely
- Ensure compliance with all Green Card holder requirements
Impact on Pending Applications
Applicants with pending immigration petitions from the 19 countries should expect:
- Indefinite delays in adjudication
- Possible requests for additional evidence
- Potential interviews or re-interviews
- Extended background check processes
- Uncertainty about approval timelines
Nationwide Asylum Freeze
The immediate hold on asylum applications affects all asylum seekers regardless of country of origin. This represents one of the most significant changes to US asylum policy in recent years.
Who Is Affected by the Asylum Freeze
The asylum freeze impacts:
- Individuals with pending asylum applications
- Those planning to file asylum claims
- Asylum seekers already in removal proceedings
- Applicants for defensive asylum in immigration court
- Affirmative asylum applicants with USCIS
Historical Context
Immigration policy shifts during presidential transitions are common, but the scope of this re-review is unprecedented according to former USCIS officials.
Previous administrations have conducted targeted reviews of specific visa categories or increased vetting for certain countries, but a wholesale re-review of hundreds of thousands of approved cases represents a departure from standard practice.
Expected Timeline
USCIS has not provided a timeline for:
- Completion of the comprehensive asylum review
- Duration of the hold on new asylum applications
- Timeline for re-reviewing approved Green Cards
- When normal processing times might resume
Immigration experts anticipate the reviews could take months or even years to complete, depending on resource allocation and case volume.
Advice for Affected Immigrants
Immigration attorneys recommend that affected individuals:
- Avoid international travel if possible until their status is clarified
- Keep copies of all immigration documents in multiple locations
- Document their ties to the United States
- Maintain clean criminal records
- Respond promptly to any USCIS requests
- Seek legal counsel if contacted for re-interviews
Broader Immigration Policy Context
This directive is part of broader Trump administration immigration policy changes that include:
- Enhanced vetting procedures for visa applicants
- Stricter enforcement of immigration laws
- Increased scrutiny of benefit applications
- Focus on national security concerns in immigration decisions
The administration has emphasized that these measures are necessary to protect national security and ensure the integrity of the immigration system.
