An Iranian doctor is accusing the government of retaliation by denying her green card application after she demanded answers about her case. Dr. Zahra Shokri Varniab's situation is one of many cases delayed after the Trump administration halted application reviews for individuals from several high-risk countries. In January, the State Department suspended immigrant visa processing for citizens of 75 countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, Russia, and Somalia, due to concerns about potential public assistance needs. However, last week, the Trump administration quietly made an exception for physicians with pending visa or green card applications. Before the exemption, many immigrants filed lawsuits to compel the government to decide on their cases. Varniab, who came to the U.S. three years ago for radiology research, faced delays in her green card application. She filed a lawsuit, and a judge ordered immigration officials to review her case. She received an answer on February 20, but her green card application was denied. The 33-year-old doctor believes this denial was retaliation for her lawsuit. In court filings, U.S. government lawyers stated that Varniab's application had inconsistencies regarding her plans to be a practicing doctor or researcher. She intends to do both. She believes the exemption doesn't apply to her because her case was decided, but she is seeking legal recourse.