The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has launched a wide-ranging crackdown on immigration fraud that threatens to impact thousands of immigrants who have obtained legal benefits in recent years.
Under Donald Trump's administration, the agency has not only intensified current investigations but has also begun to review old files— including those approved during Joe Biden's tenure— in a process that could lead to the revocation of green cards and other immigration statuses.
The announcement, supported by recent statements from the director of USCIS, Joseph Edlow, marks a significant shift in immigration policy: the focus is no longer solely on preventing new irregularities, but on reexamining past decisions that, according to authorities, may have been made without the current levels of verification.
"Stop, because we are going to find you": The direct message from USCIS
In an interview with One America News, Edlow issued a direct warning to both those committing fraud and those who might be in a position to report it. His words reflected the tone of the new strategy:
“Vigilance will always be key. Let us know. We will continue to establish reporting lines, especially now that we have new special agents. We want to know what you are seeing so we can investigate it. No report is too small,” he said.
The official emphasized that citizen collaboration will be a central element in this new phase, in coordination with ICE and CBP.
But the most emphatic message was directed at those who might have obtained immigration benefits through deception:
"Stop, because we are going to find you. And even if you think you've gotten away with it, we're going to go back, as mentioned earlier. We are reviewing old cases, reevaluating the files of individuals who were granted permanent residency (green card) and other benefits during the Biden administration, when there was no verification," he emphasized.
"Now there is verification, and we are reviewing those old cases, so prepare to face the consequences,” he concluded.
Retrospective Review: The Focus in the Biden Era
According to a report from Newsweek, the Trump administration has confirmed that it is reviewing permanent resident cards and other immigration benefits granted under President Joe Biden, particularly in cases where there may have been fraud.
USCIS has also posted messages on social media confirming that it is "reviewing the cases of individuals who were granted immigration benefits during the Biden administration," and warns that those who have committed fraud should "be prepared to face the consequences."
However, neither the interview nor these statements have come with detailed guidelines, which has caused concern among immigration lawyers and beneficiaries, who are unaware of the actual scope of the measure.
A historic increase in the granting of residencies
The numerical context helps to understand the potential magnitude of this review.
During the Biden administration, the number of people who obtained legal permanent residency increased significantly.
According to the Institute of Migration Policy:
In fiscal year 2024, approximately 1.4 million immigrants obtained their green card.
The figure represents a 16% increase compared to 2023, when nearly 1.2 million were awarded.
Compared to 2020, when approximately 707,000 were granted, the increase is 92%.
This growth has been used by Republican sectors to question the control mechanisms implemented during that period, especially following the increase in border crossings recorded in those years.
What benefits are under scrutiny?
Although USCIS has not specified which categories will be prioritized, the term "immigration benefits" encompasses a broad spectrum that includes:
- Legal permanent residency (green card).
-Temporary visas.
-Asylum and refuge.
Naturalization processes.
Green cards can be obtained through various means—family reunification, employment, humanitarian programs, or diversity lottery—which suggests that any review will be conducted on a case-by-case basis, depending on individual circumstances.
The legal framework: How a green card can be revoked
Despite the alarm generated by the announcement, U.S. immigration legislation has long provided for the possibility of reopening cases and revoking benefits under certain circumstances.
Among the most common causes are:
-Fraud or falseness in the application.
-Omission of criminal records.
-Administrative errors.
-Changes affecting eligibility.
The process usually begins with a Notice of Intent to Terminate, through which the government communicates its intention to withdraw the status.
If the affected party challenges the decision, the case may be referred to an immigration court, where a judge will determine the final outcome.
Ongoing operations and recent developments
The current offensive is part of a broader strategy of immigration review driven by the Trump administration.
Among the recent initiatives, the Operation PARRIS stands out. Launched at the beginning of the year, it focuses on reviewing thousands of refugee cases in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area.
According to the authorities, the objective is to detect eligibility issues and indicators of fraud in already approved files.
In addition, following security incidents, the government has ordered specific reviews of beneficiaries from countries deemed "of interest," in what officials have described as a "rigorous and large-scale" review of previous immigration decisions.
The extent of the detected fraud
Data cited by Breitbart indicate a significant increase in immigration fraud investigations since the beginning of the current administration:
Nearly 33,000 cases referred to the Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate since January 2025, representing a 138% increase compared to the previous average.
More than 21,000 investigations completed, with fraud identified in 65% of the cases.
-Over 7,000 home visits conducted by agents.
- More than 26,000 checks on social media to detect security risks and fraud.
This data reinforces the administration's argument that the issue is significant and justifies a stricter review, even of cases that have already been approved.
A turn that generates uncertainty
Despite the strength of the official rhetoric, the lack of concrete details leaves thousands of immigrants in suspense. It is unclear whether USCIS will carry out mass reviews or if it will focus on specific cases with previous indications of fraud.
It has not been specified what exact period will be reviewed or what criteria will be used to select the files.
What does seem evident is the shift in approach: the U.S. immigration system is not only tightening its current filters but is also willing to look back.
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