USCIS Is Re-Vetting Approved Green Cards: What You Need to Know and Six Steps to Protect Yourself

By M. Ray Arvand, Esq. | The Law Office of M. Ray Arvand, P.C.

Last Updated: May 2026

This is not a rumor. USCIS Director Joseph Edlow confirmed publicly that the agency is actively re-examining immigration cases that were approved under the prior administration — including green cards, asylum grants, and other immigration benefits already in hand.

If you hold a green card, have pending immigration benefits, or naturalized in recent years, this development could directly affect you. Here is what is happening, who is at risk, and what you should do right now.

What USCIS Has Announced

In a televised interview and in posts on social media, USCIS Director Joseph Edlow confirmed that the agency is re-vetting cases approved during the Biden administration. His statement was direct: the agency is looking at old cases, re-examining whether approvals were properly granted, and working with ICE and CBP to investigate suspected fraud.

Edlow stated that the agency is also deploying new special agents and launching public tip lines — meaning anyone can submit a report about a suspected case of immigration fraud, and USCIS has committed to investigating those tips in coordination with federal enforcement partners.

USCIS has not specified which types of immigration benefits are under review, but the term can include lawful permanent residence, temporary visas, asylum or refugee protections, and naturalization applications. Newsweek

The message from the agency is unambiguous: previously approved cases are not insulated from review. An approval is not a guarantee of permanent finality.

What Legal Authority Does USCIS Have to Reopen Approved Cases?

This is the question most green card holders are asking, and it deserves a direct answer.

According to USCIS guidance, the agency may initiate revocation or rescission of lawful permanent resident status where eligibility issues such as fraud or error are identified, typically by issuing a Notice of Intent to Rescind and, if challenged, referring the matter to immigration court for a judge to decide. Newsweek

The legal grounds most commonly used to reopen an approved case include fraud or willful misrepresentation on the original application, failure to disclose criminal history, administrative error affecting eligibility, and changes in circumstances affecting the underlying basis for approval.

This is not a new authority. USCIS has always had the power to rescind improperly granted status. What is new is the stated intention to exercise that authority systematically and at scale, using AI-assisted vetting tools, interagency coordination, and public tip lines.

Who Is at Risk?

The agency's stated focus is on cases approved during the Biden administration where USCIS believes vetting was inadequate. However, the practical scope of this review is broader than that framing suggests.

You should pay particular attention to your case if any of the following apply:

• You received a green card, asylum grant, or other immigration benefit between 2021 and 2024

• Your original application involved complex facts, multiple hearings, or prior denials before approval

• There were any inconsistencies — even minor ones — between your application and supporting documents

• You have had any contact with law enforcement, regardless of outcome

• You received benefits through a program that has since been terminated or modified, such as certain parole programs or humanitarian pathways

Green cards are granted through a range of pathways — including family sponsorship, employment-based programs, humanitarian protections, and diversity visas — meaning any re-vetting effort would likely depend on the details of individual cases rather than a single category. Newsweek

Being at risk does not mean your status will be revoked. It means proactive preparation is now essential.

Six Steps to Protect Your Immigration Status Right Now

1. Pull and review your complete immigration file.

Request a copy of your A-file through a Freedom of Information Act request if you do not already have it. Review every answer you gave on every form you submitted. If anything was inaccurate, incomplete, or has changed since your application, that needs to be addressed with an attorney before USCIS identifies it first.

2. Verify the consistency of your record.

Compare your original application answers against any supporting documents you submitted — employment records, tax filings, address history, family information. Inconsistencies, even ones that arose from translation errors or honest mistakes, can become the basis for a fraud inquiry. Identify them before USCIS does.

3. Do not make assumptions about what USCIS already knows.

The agency has stated it is conducting social media checks, site visits, and interagency database reviews as part of its fraud detection efforts. Do not assume that information you did not disclose is information USCIS cannot find. Approach your file review on the assumption that your record will be examined thoroughly.

4. Address any prior issues proactively.

If there were errors in your original application — addresses that changed, employment information that was incomplete, family circumstances that were not fully disclosed — speak with an immigration attorney about whether and how those issues can be addressed proactively. Waiting for a Notice of Intent to Rescind to arrive is not a strategy.

5. Do not contact USCIS without legal representation.

If you receive any correspondence from USCIS related to a review of your case, do not respond without first consulting an immigration attorney. Statements you make in response to an agency inquiry become part of your record. Responding incorrectly or incompletely can compound an existing problem rather than resolve it.

6. Consult with an immigration attorney now, not after you receive a letter.

The time to review your file is before USCIS contacts you, not after. If your status is solid, a review will confirm that and give you peace of mind. If there are vulnerabilities in your record, identifying them now — and addressing them with counsel — is far better than responding to an agency action under deadline pressure.

The Bottom Line

USCIS has the legal authority to revisit approved cases, and the current administration has stated publicly that it intends to use that authority. The scale and targeting of this review will continue to develop. What is already clear is that previously approved status is not immune from scrutiny, and preparation is the only effective response.

Do not wait for a letter. Review your file. Talk to an attorney.

ArvandLaw represents green card holders, permanent residents, and immigration benefit recipients throughout Connecticut and nationwide. If you have questions about how the current USCIS enforcement environment affects your status, contact Ray Arvand directly.

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M. Ray Arvand, Esq. is an immigration attorney at The Law Office of M. Ray Arvand, P.C., representing clients in immigration matters throughout Connecticut and nationwide.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this article does not create an attorney-client relationship. Immigration law and agency enforcement priorities are subject to change. Consult a qualified immigration attorney regarding your specific circumstances and immigration history.