BackLAW
USCIS delays in green card and citizenship processing as background checks re-run and FBI name-checks broaden
Immigration attorneys say USCIS is slowing adjudications as officers re-run background checks for pending cases where biometrics were submitted before April 27. The agency has not announced a system-wide pause, but delays are widespread due to updated FBI clearances and broader name-check scrutiny.
Why It Matters
The delays affect applicants for lawful status and could impact families and employers, reflecting a broader tightening of immigration controls under the current administration.
Timeline
5 Events
Policy context: tightening immigration screening under the Trump administration
May 14, 2026
Immigration advocates describe the moves as part of a broader tightening of immigration screening under the Trump administration, with expanded enforcement and increased scrutiny across legal immigration pathways.
FBI name-check system may trigger secondary reviews for indirect mentions
May 14, 2026
The FBI’s name-check system searches multiple variations and phonetic spellings of names across investigative and reference files; indirect mentions in investigative records can trigger secondary reviews requiring manual examination.
Broadened searches may increase scrutiny of minor or historical records
May 14, 2026
Immigration attorneys warn broadened FBI name-check searches could lead to greater scrutiny of applicants for minor or historical interactions appearing in criminal databases, even where there was no conviction.
Adjudications slow as officers await updated FBI clearances
May 14, 2026
The article reports that USCIS has not formally announced a system-wide pause, but adjudications in many categories have slowed as officers wait for updated FBI clearances.
USCIS instructs re-run of background checks for pending applications with biometrics submitted before April 27
April 27, 2026
Immigration attorneys say USCIS officers have been instructed to re-run background checks even for pending applications where biometrics were submitted before April 27, 2026, marking a significant tightening of screening.