The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has tightened its rules for asylum seekers following a White House order. Migrants arriving in the United States or those already living there will be subject to background checks. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) had made the changes because they feared that immigrants were abusing the asylum system.
The administration says these changes are essential for national security. The previous Asylum Policy allowed some anti-social elements to enter the country by misusing it. With the new policy in place, refugees who have passed vetting and even received green cards will be re-interviewed.
The sudden change in asylum policy has increased fear and instability among the migrant community. Experts say that reopening old cases will overwhelm immigration agencies. This will further delay pending applications and will not alleviate the hardship faced by migrants even after obtaining a green card.
Experts say that the new policy will require re-interviews and re-screening for approximately 200,000 refugees. This will significantly impact their lives, as they were beginning to stabilise. Migrants are also unhappy with this new act and believe their future is now filled with uncertainty.