Green Card Update: Important Changes Coming in December

The US government has ordered a sweeping review of previously issued Green Cards and will introduce universal biometric screening for all non-citizens later this month.

The Trump administration has directed immigration officials to reassess Green Cards granted to nationals from countries considered to present higher security risks. At the same time, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is preparing to implement a new biometric entry-exit system that will apply to every non-US citizen, including lawful permanent residents.

The two measures, one looking backward at past approvals, the other reshaping future border procedures, represent a significant tightening of federal oversight and have already created uncertainty for affected communities. The reassessment follows a recent incident in which an Afghan national shot two members of the National Guard near the White House.

In response, DHS launched a broad examination of previous vetting practices, prompting US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to pause asylum adjudications while it evaluates existing screening protocols. Under the new directive, officers will re-examine immigration files for nationals of nineteen countries whose identity and security checks the administration considers insufficient.

Citizens of Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen now face a full suspension of entry to the United States. A further seven countries, Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela, will see narrower restrictions involving stricter visa rules and shorter eligibility periods.

Officials expect the review to result in additional document requests, extended processing times and, in some cases, reassessment of individuals’ immigration status. Morgan Bailey, a partner at Mayer Brown and former DHS official, told Newsweek that officers are likely to conduct detailed criminal history checks, verify previous employment claims under Special Immigrant Visa rules and examine earlier applications for inconsistencies. Bailey noted that adjudicators may treat nationality as a potential risk factor, giving them broad discretion during case reviews.

DHS will also introduce a new biometric entry-exit rule on 26 December. The system will require US Customs and Border Protection to collect biometric identifiers, such as photographs, fingerprints or iris scans, from every non-citizen entering or leaving the country. The rule removes previous exemptions and applies to travellers of all ages as well as permanent residents.

Supporters of the change argue that comprehensive biometric records will strengthen identity verification and help monitor overstays. Critics warn that the expanded system may heighten risks for individuals already subject to increased scrutiny, particularly those from the countries under Green Card review.

Bailey said the policy could influence future decisions related to physical presence requirements, including naturalisation eligibility and assessments of whether a permanent resident has abandoned their status. The Office of Homeland Security Statistics estimates that 12.8 million Green Card holders were living in the United States at the start of 2024, many of whom will now face more extensive checks at the border.

Immigrant-rights organisations have criticised the approach. Lisa Sherman Luna of the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition said the pause in Green Card processing for affected refugees undermines individuals who have already completed rigorous screening. Immigration attorney Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch described the suspension of asylum adjudications as a form of collective punishment.

Senior officials have defended the changes. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said previous policies accelerated refugee admissions from countries associated with security threats without adequate safeguards and argued that the new measures constitute necessary corrections. Former President Trump has characterised the actions as part of a broader restructuring of immigration policy.

USCIS and DHS are expected to release further guidance on the criteria and procedures in the coming weeks. Bailey has advised individuals from the listed countries to ensure their documents are complete, consistent and ready to submit if officials request further evidence.