(MENAFN) The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has halted the processing of Green Card applications for immigrants with refugee or asylum status, CBS reports. The move is linked to executive orders signed by President Donald Trump earlier this year.

According to US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), officials have been directed to put legal permanent residency requests on hold. It remains uncertain when processing will resume. In a statement to CBS, the DHS cited a “temporary pause” to allow for additional screening and vetting to detect potential fraud, security risks, or other concerns, aligning with Trump’s immigration policies.

The suspension is part of broader efforts under executive orders aimed at strengthening national security and preventing threats from foreign nationals.

Earlier this month, DHS also ordered over 500,000 migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela—who had entered under former President Joe Biden’s parole program—to leave the country within 30 days or face deportation.

Additionally, Trump introduced a new immigration initiative called the “Gold Card,” offering a pathway to US residency and citizenship for a $5 million investment. He described the program as a strategy to attract wealthy immigrants who would contribute to the economy. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick stated that the Gold Card would replace the existing EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, which he criticized for inefficiency and fraud.

Since assuming office in January 2025, Trump has signed multiple executive orders reversing Biden-era immigration policies and implementing stricter controls. These include tightening visa applicant screenings, restricting birthright citizenship, deploying military personnel to the southern border, and constructing additional barriers.

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