Green Card Processing Delays May Explode as USCIS Review Triggers Historic Backlog, Experts Warn
The U.S. immigration system is once again under pressure as a newly announced USCIS green card review threatens to create massive delays across the entire immigration pipeline. According to former senior USCIS official Ricky Murray, the agency’s decision to re-examine hundreds of thousands of pending immigration cases could have a “tremendous effect on the backlog.”
With over 11.3 million pending applications, USCIS is already struggling with record-breaking delays. Now, with this large-scale review targeting applicants from 19 high-risk countries, the situation could worsen dramatically for immigrants waiting on green card processing, work permits, travel documents, and naturalization applications.
Why the USCIS Green Card Review Is Triggering Nationwide Delays
The USCIS green card review was announced through a new internal memo published in December. This policy specifically targets:
- Applicants with adjusted status
- Applicants from 19 countries previously under U.S. travel restrictions
These include Afghanistan, Cuba, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Venezuela, among others.
Even immigrants who have:
- Already completed interviews
- Passed background checks
- Received conditional approvals
are now facing fresh delays due to re-review under national security screening.
“Tremendous Effect” on USCIS Backlog, Former Official Warns
Ricky Murray, former Chief of Staff at USCIS Refugee and International Operations, confirmed that the USCIS green card review will drain critical resources.
“This is going to have a tremendous effect on the backlog. Reviewing hundreds of thousands of cases will require thousands of man-hours. These hours will be taken directly from new application processing,” Murray explained.
This means:
- Slower green card processing time
- Delays in work permit (EAD) approvals
- Delayed advance parole travel documents
- Longer naturalization wait times
Why USCIS Launched This Massive Immigration Review
The USCIS green card review follows a tragic Thanksgiving-week shooting near the White House, where an Afghan national suspect killed one National Guard soldier and injured another.
USCIS Director Joseph Edlow stated:
“My responsibility is to ensure that every alien is vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible.”
As a result, USCIS has placed heightened scrutiny on immigrants from countries it considers national security risks.
Legal Experts Say This Is a “Needle-in-a-Haystack” Operation
Immigration attorneys across the U.S. believe the review will uncover very few actual security threats, despite delaying hundreds of thousands of cases.
Murray warned:
“This is a needle-in-the-haystack search. It will identify only a small number of inadmissible cases, but it will take enormous time and resources.”
That means the USCIS green card processing delays will likely explode—with minimal additional security benefit.
Interviews Cancelled, Processing Frozen for Many Immigrants
Across the U.S., immigration lawyers are already reporting:
- Canceled green card interviews
- Delayed work permits
- Paused visa extensions
- Halted travel document approvals
The memo instructs USCIS field offices to prioritize reviewing pending applications first, even before handling new filings. This directly impacts millions of lawful immigrants already inside the U.S.
Can USCIS Reopen Approved Green Cards?
Under current law, USCIS can reopen approved petitions within five years through a legal process known as rescission. However, experts say this process is normally used only for isolated fraud cases—not mass reviews.
Murray explained:
“Doing this on such a massive scale is unprecedented. Normally this is done only when fraud is found in a specific case.”
This makes the current USCIS green card review historically unusual and legally controversial.
Also More:
Political Strategy? Experts Suggest Delays May Be Intentional
One of the most alarming claims is that slower immigration processing may be a side effect the administration is fully aware of—and possibly expects.
Because:
- Review = fewer approvals
- Slower process = reduced immigration flow
This creates an indirect immigration slowdown without changing laws—simply by stretching USCIS resources thin.
Who Will Be Affected the Most?
The USCIS green card review is expected to impact:
- Family-based green card applicants
- Employment-based immigrants
- Refugees and asylees
- DACA applicants in review status
- Adjustment of status cases
- Naturalization applicants from affected countries
Even applicants outside those 19 nations may suffer delays due to overall USCIS backlog overflow.
What Immigrants Should Do Right Now
If you or your family member is affected:
- Track your USCIS case online
- Avoid international travel without Advance Parole
- Keep copies of all immigration documents
- Consult a U.S. immigration attorney
- Prepare for longer wait times in 2025
Final Verdict: Green Card Delays Are About to Get Worse
The USCIS green card review has already started slowing the entire immigration system. With 11.3 million+ pending cases, limited manpower, and no official timeline, experts believe the immigration backlog crisis will deepen in 2025.
While the government insists this move strengthens national security, seasoned officials warn that the damage to lawful immigrants may far outweigh the benefits.
Read More: USCIS New Processing Time Update — EAD & Green Card