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The U.S. green card process underwent structural changes starting in March 2025, with effects that continue to shape the experience of applicants in 2026. The Trump Administration implemented two measures that redefined the path to permanent residence in the United States: in-depth social media analysis conducted by USCIS and the suspension of green card processing for refugees and asylees who had already been approved under humanitarian procedures. Anyone with a pending petition or planning to file one needs to understand the impact of these measures to avoid surprises and adjust their immigration strategy.
The Background of the January 2025 Executive Order
On January 20, 2025, the first day of the second presidential term, the Executive Order titled Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats was signed. The document directed the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of State, and the Department of Justice to strengthen screening procedures for foreign nationals seeking to enter or remain in the United States. The official rationale is protection against threats to national security and public order.
The order operates on two complementary fronts. First, it requires federal officials to expand the use of available databases, including publicly available content on digital platforms, to verify consistency between what an applicant declares on forms such as the I-485, I-130, or I-140 and their online presence. Second, it authorizes the temporary suspension of admission programs deemed high-risk until new verification protocols are implemented.
USCIS Expands Social Media Vetting
On March 10, 2025, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services issued operational guidance directing officers to systematically review the digital history of immigration benefit applicants, including those seeking a green card. The review covers public profiles on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, TikTok, and YouTube, examining old and recent posts, comments, connections, followed groups, and shared content.
What Officers Are Looking For
The stated focus of the review includes signs of association with organizations designated as terrorist, expressions of support for extremist groups, content that may be interpreted as endorsing political violence, antisemitic statements, and any discrepancy between what was declared on official forms and what appears publicly on social media. Inconsistencies regarding employers, places of residence, family ties, or travel history may serve as grounds for a Request for Evidence or for outright denial of the petition.
The Free Speech Controversy
The measure drew immediate opposition from civil rights organizations. The American Civil Liberties Union and the National Immigration Law Center argue that expanded surveillance creates a chilling effect on immigrants’ freedom of expression, with a risk of discrimination based on political or religious opinion or statements taken out of context. Another sensitive point is the absence of any time limit on the review, meaning posts made five or ten years ago can influence decisions made today. The government, for its part, maintains that the measure is consistent with American sovereignty and executive discretion in granting immigration benefits.
Suspension of Processing for Refugees and Asylees
The second change, first reported by CBS News on March 25, 2025, affects applicants who had already been recognized as refugees or asylees in the United States and were awaiting processing of their adjustment of status petitions for permanent residence. USCIS suspended adjudication of these petitions while additional verification procedures are developed.
Who Is Directly Affected
The measure affects two groups with distinct legal situations. Refugees are individuals who underwent screening outside the United States, typically in refugee camps managed in partnership with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and were admitted after security checks, medical examinations, and interviews. Asylees, on the other hand, request protection while already on U.S. soil, demonstrating persecution based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. After one year with refugee or asylee status granted, both groups have the legal right to seek a green card via Form I-485.
The Legal Limbo Created
Individuals who have already completed all previous steps and had their humanitarian protection formally recognized are now waiting indefinitely for the conclusion of the permanent residence process. This pending status has significant practical consequences: it limits the ability to travel internationally without advance parole, complicates access to federal assistance programs, delays the time needed for naturalization, and creates legal uncertainty for thousands of families who have already rebuilt their lives in the country.
The Broader Immigration Policy Landscape
The changes to the green card process are not isolated measures. They are part of a broader set of executive decisions reshaping U.S. immigration policy. New asylum requests have been suspended, asylum at the southern border has been restricted, petitions linked to humanitarian programs created during the Biden Administration for nationals of Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, Venezuela, and Ukraine have been halted, and removal procedures have been expanded for undocumented immigrants.
For those seeking a green card through employment-based routes such as EB-1, EB-2, EB-2 NIW, EB-3, and EB-5, or family-based routes such as CR-1, IR-1, or K-1, the direct impact of the suspension is limited, but social media vetting applies to everyone. The practical recommendation is to conduct a careful audit of public content on digital platforms before submitting any petition, ensure consistency between what is declared on forms and what appears online, preserve robust documentary evidence to support all submitted information, and account for the additional time that the expanded screening may add to the process.
What to Expect in the Coming Months
As of April 2026, digital surveillance remains in effect and has been expanded to include automated cross-referencing of federal, state, and even commercial databases, with natural language processing technologies applied to detect suspicious patterns. The suspension of processing for refugees and asylees, meanwhile, remains under judicial dispute, with rulings across different federal circuits that could alter the landscape throughout 2026. Applicants at any stage of the process should maintain contact with qualified professionals, monitor official updates published by USCIS, and be prepared to respond promptly to any Request for Evidence related to digital presence or expanded screening.
Victoria Harper
Editor-in-Chief
Leading journalism and editorial content at Visto n’ Visa, Victoria helps make immigration topics clear, trustworthy, and easy to understand. Her focus is on delivering useful, human, and relevant content for people exploring new paths abroad.
