The Trump administration has ordered expanded security checks for immigrants applying for legal status, directing federal agencies to increase scrutiny of pending and new applications through broader access to FBI criminal databases.
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Internal guidance issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) instructs officers to resubmit pending cases—including applications for asylum, green cards, and citizenship—for enhanced background screening. Officers have also been instructed to hold off on approving cases that have not completed the updated checks, effectively putting many applications on pause while the new process is rolled out.
The policy follows a February executive order directing the Justice Department to provide immigration authorities with access to federal criminal history records “to the maximum extent permitted by law.” The order is intended to identify foreign nationals with criminal records who may have broken or could potentially violate U.S. laws.
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USCIS spokesperson Zach Kahler confirmed the agency has “implemented new security checks to strengthen the vetting and screening of applicants through expanded access to federal criminal databases.” He added that processing delays are expected to be temporary and that decisions should resume once the additional checks are completed.
The expanded vetting applies to applications requiring fingerprint-based screening and extends to family-based petitions and certain visa categories. In some cases, officers must resubmit fingerprint data if prior screenings were conducted before late April.
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The measures form part of a broader effort by the administration to tighten immigration controls. Officials have also increased scrutiny of applicants’ backgrounds, including social media activity, and have taken steps to slow or pause certain immigration processes. Separate actions by the Justice Department have intensified efforts to pursue denaturalization cases involving foreign-born citizens.
While administration officials argue the changes address gaps in previous screening procedures, civil rights advocates have raised concerns that the expanded checks and additional scrutiny could lead to delays and potential discrimination in the immigration system.
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