U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is expected to make policy changes that will affect many of the refugees we serve.
This information is critical for clients to understand, and we encourage you to share it widely so affected individuals can seek legal assistance when needed. For more resources on supporting clients during this time, see Switchboard’s blog,
A Collection of Resources for Supporting the Mental Health of Newcomers and Direct Service Providers
What Is Changing
Hold and Review of all Pending Asylum Applications and all USCIS Benefit Applications
On December 2, 2025, USCIS issued an official policy memo that directs officers to:
- Pause all pending asylum applications (Form I‑589), regardless of nationality. While interviews may still be scheduled, no final decisions will be issued until the review is complete.
- Pause all pending USCIS benefit applications (this includes Green Card applications, naturalizations, and travel documents) filed by individuals from the 19 countries listed in Presidential Proclamation 10949.
- Re‑review previously approved immigration benefit applications for individuals from those 19 countries who entered the U.S. on or after January 20, 2021.
The memo requires that individuals meeting these criteria undergo a “thorough re-review process, including a potential interview and, if necessary, a re-interview.”
Refugee Re-interviews
The public USCIS memo released on December 2, 2025 does not comment specifically on refugee claims. However, on November 21, 2025, a leaked internal memo indicated that USCIS is expected to re-interview some refugees to confirm they met the legal definition of a refugee and were admissible when they entered the U.S. The leaked memo states that USCIS will review the applications of all refugees who entered the U.S. between January 20, 2021, and February 20, 2025. USCIS may also review and re-interview refugees who arrived outside of this timeframe.
Status Termination
USCIS can only terminate a person’s refugee status if they determine that the person was granted refugee status in error, meaning that they did not have a well-founded fear of persecution because of their race, religion, nationality, political opinion or social group, or that they participated in the persecution of others.
Green Card Pause
All pending Adjustment of Status (“Green Card”) applications for refugees who arrived during the 2021–2025 period will be paused until USCIS concludes their review. While USCIS will still accept applications, no final decisions on Green Cards for refugees will be made for now.
Help Your Clients Understand Their Situations
Your clients are likely to have questions about how this policy affects them. You may receive questions you don’t know the answers to, and that’s okay. When you’re unsure, acknowledge the importance of the question and be honest about the limits of your knowledge. It is essential that you NOT try to answer a legal question or give legal advice, even if you believe you know the answer. This is considered the unauthorized practice of law, which is a crime in most jurisdictions, and can have serious negative consequences. You may provide general information (information that does not apply to any individual’s particular situation), or you might say something like, “I am not a legal expert, and I cannot advise you about your situation, but I can connect you with legal services.” Your clients value honesty and will appreciate your efforts to help them find accurate information, even when you can’t provide it yourself.
Below are common questions and comments you may encounter and information you can share with your clients.
“I arrived between January 20, 2021, and February 20, 2025. Will my refugee status be terminated?”
Your refugee status remains valid indefinitely unless terminated by USCIS. If USCIS intends to terminate your status, they must give you written notice and an opportunity to respond. If your refugee status is terminated, you will be referred to immigration court where you may seek relief against deportation, such as asylum, withholding of removal, or protection under the Convention Against Torture, before an immigration judge.
Action needed: If you receive a notice terminating your status, contact a legal representative immediately.
“Will USCIS interview me again?”
It is possible. Some refugees will be interviewed about their application for refugee status.
Action needed: If you get a notice telling you to come for an interview, contact a legal representative immediately.
“I am a derivative [spouse or child] on my [spouse’s or parent’s] refugee case.”
If the status of the Principal Refugee Applicant is terminated because they were found not to meet the refugee definition at the time of admission, USCIS can also terminate the refugee status of their derivative spouse or child.
However, termination of a principal’s protection does not prevent a spouse or child from pursuing their own separate asylum or other protection claim in immigration courthttps://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-8/chapter-I/subchapter-B/part-207/section-207.9.
https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-8/chapter-I/subchapter-B/part-208/subpart-A/section-208.24
“I already have a Green Card.”
USCIS can still review your original refugee application. Your Permanent Resident status may be revoked if USCIS finds you were granted refugee status in error at the time you entered the U.S. or if you lied on your Green Card application.
“I have been in the U.S. for a year and have not yet applied for a Green Card (Adjustment of Status).”
The law requires refugees to apply for adjustment of status after one year in the U.S., but you cannot lose refugee status or be deported just because you did not do so.
“Will I be detained or deported?”
Refugees should not be detained during the review of their case, but a refugee could be detained if they have been in the U.S. for more than one year and have not yet applied for adjustment of status. This is very rare and usually only happens if they have certain criminal convictions, provided false information, engaged in terrorist activities, or participated in the persecution of others.
The U.S. Department of State has recently designated new foreign terrorist organizations. You can view the updated list here.
Action needed: If you think any of these situations may apply to you, talk to a legal representative right away.
“Can I still work?”
Yes. Refugee status does not expire, and you remain authorized to work indefinitely, even while your case is under review. You can renew your Employment Authorization Document (EAD) if needed.
“Can I travel during this review process?”
Travel outside the U.S. has risks even with a Refugee Travel Document or Permanent Resident Status.
Action needed: Talk to a legal representative before making any travel plans.
When to Connect Clients with Legal Help
Encourage clients to seek legal representatives if they:
- Receive a notice terminating their status
- Receive a notice telling them to come for an interview
- Think situations regarding detention apply to them, or may have had contact with any terrorist organizations
- Plan to travel outside the U.S.
Additional Resources
General Immigration Information:
- USA Hello: Multilingual immigration resources and guidance
- American Immigration Lawyers Association: Find legal assistance
- Settle In: Resources for Newcomers
Supporting Clients’ Mental Health:
- Switchboard Guide: Mental Health and Psychosocial Support for Newcomers: Guidance for Service Providers
- Switchboard Guide: Supporting Resettled Afghan Children and Adolescents Experiencing Grief-Related Distress
- Switchboard Archived Webinar: De-escalation in Practice: Strategies for Supporting Newcomers Experiencing Crises
The IRC received competitive funding through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Grant #90RB0053. The project is 100% financed by federal funds. The contents of this document are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families.
