• Trump administration freezes Green Card approvals for 235,000 refugees admitted during Biden's presidency.
• USCIS orders comprehensive reviews and re-interviews of refugees to assess their admission validity.
• Critics label the move as "unspeakably cruel," claiming it threatens the stability of families fleeing persecution.

The Trump administration has announced a significant decision to freeze Green Card approvals for approximately 235,000 refugees who entered the United States between 2021 and 2025. This decision is part of a broader initiative to re-interview and review these admissions, which the administration deems necessary to assess potential national security threats. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued an internal memo indicating a comprehensive reassessment of refugees admitted under the Biden administration is underway due to concerns about insufficient vetting processes, which the current administration claims were prioritized for expediency over thoroughness, according to Indiatimes and Africanews.

The directive from USCIS mandates a re-interview process for those refugees, effectively suspending their Green Card applications and instilling uncertainty among this population. The memo indicates that if refugees are found not to meet the criteria for their initial admission, their status may be revoked without any appeal process, only leaving the option to contest potential removal in immigration court. Critics of this initiative argue that the refugees have already endured rigorous vetting procedures and label the move as "unprecedented and cruel," fueling fear among refugees who are trying to establish stable lives in the U.S., according to The Hill, Indiatimes, and Middle East Eye.

The decision affects a significant number of refugees from countries experiencing conflict and persecution, including Syria, Afghanistan, and Venezuela, drawing harsh criticism from humanitarian organizations. Advocates emphasize that refugees are among the most thoroughly vetted immigrants in the U.S., undergoing exhaustive assessments before their admission. They argue that the current administration's focus on re-interviews is a calculated attempt to undermine the integrity of the refugee program and a cruel blow to those already facing challenges in adjusting to life in the U.S., according to Middle East Eye and Africanews.

As the Trump administration sets a historic low for refugee admissions—only permitting 7,500 refugees annually—many fear this new policy could further decimate the already fragile refugee resettlement system in the U.S. Leaders from various refugee advocacy groups have decried this initiative as indicative of a broader "cold-hearted treatment" toward vulnerable populations seeking safety and stability in America. The USCIS memo, issued just before Thanksgiving, has been described as particularly callous and ill-timed, further fuelling the anxiety felt by affected families, according to The Hill, Indiatimes, and Middle East Eye.