The Donald Trump administration has triggered widespread condemnation from humanitarian organizations after deciding to freeze approximately 235,000 Green Cards designated for refugees who entered the United States between 2021 and 2025. The controversial move, announced during Thanksgiving week, has been labeled as unprecedented and cruel by multiple refugee advocacy groups.
Massive Policy Shift Affects War-Torn Nations
According to an internal memorandum from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the agency will now re-interview refugees to determine whether their cases were genuinely qualified for permanent residency. This decision primarily affects individuals from countries experiencing ongoing conflicts and humanitarian crises.
The list of affected nations includes the Democratic Republic of Congo, Syria, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Sudan, Venezuela, and Ukraine. These refugees had initially undergone what experts describe as one of the most exhaustive vetting processes globally, involving multiple agency checks, biometric verification, and layered security reviews.
Humanitarian Organizations Voice Strong Opposition
Refugee resettlement organizations and humanitarian groups have expressed shock and outrage at the administration's decision. Mark Hetfield, president of HIAS, a prominent refugee resettlement organization, stated in an interview with CNN: "Just the threat of this is unspeakably cruel. To threaten refugees with taking away their status would be re-traumatizing and a vicious misuse of taxpayer money."
Jeremy Konyndyk, President of Refugees International, highlighted the apparent contradiction in the administration's approach, noting the shocking timing given simultaneous efforts to bring White South Africans to the United States. The organization AfghanEvac emphasized that refugees undergo the world's most rigorous vetting process before receiving their status.
The policy announcement during Thanksgiving week drew particular criticism, with one organization stating: "This is unprecedented and cruel. And it's even worse that it comes during the week of Thanksgiving, when families across the country should be resting easy, not being thrust back into fear."
Key Details of the Green Card Freeze Policy
The USCIS has outlined specific procedures for implementing the Green Card freeze:
- USCIS will create a priority list identifying which refugees will face re-interview within 90 days
- The freeze on Green Card approvals will remain effective until new directives are issued
- Only the USCIS director or deputy director may authorize exceptions to this policy
- USCIS will revisit all grounds of inadmissibility, including those previously waived
- Refugees must demonstrate they pose no threat to national security or public safety
In a significant additional move, the administration has revoked the Temporary Protected Status from Myanmar, urging its citizens to return home citing improved conditions in the country.
The Trump administration justifies this extensive review process as necessary, claiming the previous Biden administration prioritized quantity over quality in refugee admissions. However, humanitarian organizations counter that the existing vetting process was already exceptionally thorough and that this new policy unnecessarily traumatizes vulnerable populations who have already endured significant hardship.
