New York, NY , November 25, 2025 — On reports that US authorities will pause processing of green card applications by refugees and potentially subject those admitted during the prior administration to redetermination of their refugee status and admissibility, Kelly Razzouk, Vice President, Policy & Advocacy at the International Rescue Committee (IRC), said:
“The reports of this policy are deepening distress for our clients, who fled persecution and conflict in Afghanistan, Myanmar, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and other countries facing ongoing humanitarian crises. This policy would needlessly retraumatize refugees who have survived unimaginable horrors, have waited decades in some cases for resettlement, and have just begun to rebuild their lives in the United States, creating bonds with local communities, workplaces and faith groups. It will also exacerbate delays for refugees who are following US law by applying for permanent residence after one year in the United States.
“Refugees are vetted more intensively than any other group seeking to enter the United States. Before arriving through the resettlement process, refugees are subject to extensive background investigations by multiple agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security, the FBI, and the Department of Defense. Specially trained DHS personnel conduct in-person interviews of every applicant to verify that they meet the legal requirements for refugee status and resettlement to the United States. Conducting redundant investigations and interviews of refugees would waste taxpayer dollars and expend significant government resources at a time when the US immigration service is already dealing with extensive backlogs.
“The IRC urges the administration to reconsider this policy.”