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The Trump administration has announced a pause on immigration from 19 countries, effective immediately, as part of new security measures. This pause affects nations already under full or partial travel restrictions, including Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela. The decision, outlined in a policy memo from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), puts a hold on various immigration processes such as green card applications and naturalizations for individuals from these countries.
The pause follows a recent incident where two National Guard troops were shot, allegedly by an Afghan national, near the White House. The administration cited this event as a reason for increased scrutiny and the pause in immigration processes. USCIS will conduct a comprehensive review of all approved benefit requests for immigrants who entered the U.S. during the Biden administration. This includes potential interviews and re-interviews for those from high-risk countries.
The memo from USCIS states that within 90 days, a prioritized list of immigrants will be created for review, with possible referrals to immigration enforcement or other law enforcement agencies. The administration had previously banned travel from these countries in June, citing national security concerns. The new policy extends to individuals already in the U.S., subjecting them to additional scrutiny.
Critics argue that these actions amount to collective punishment and have raised concerns about their impact on individuals seeking to immigrate legally. Immigration advocates have reported disruptions, such as canceled oath ceremonies and interviews, for those from the affected countries.