Trump Halts Immigration Applications from 19 Travel-Ban Nations, Including Afghanistan
The Trump administration has announced a pause on all immigration applications from 19 countries deemed high-risk. This decision follows the recent shooting incident involving two National Guard troops in Washington, D.C. The announcement was formalized in a policy memo by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Impact of Immigration Application Suspension
This immigration pause encompasses various types of applications, including green card requests and naturalization processes for immigrants hailing from the listed countries. The directive is effective immediately, though the duration will be determined by USCIS Director Joseph Edlow.
Countries Affected by the Travel Ban
- Afghanistan
- Myanmar
- Chad
- Republic of Congo
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Haiti
- Iran
- Libya
- Somalia
- Sudan
- Yemen
The administration previously imposed travel restrictions in June on 12 countries and limited access for an additional seven, citing national security issues. The newly affected nations are now subject to additional scrutiny, especially concerning immigrants already residing in the U.S.
Reasons for Increased Scrutiny
The tragic shooting that occurred near the White House has prompted these heightened security measures. In this incident, one National Guard member was killed, and another was injured by a suspect identified as an Afghan national.
In light of these events, USCIS stated that it would conduct a comprehensive review of all immigration benefit requests made by individuals entering the U.S. since January 20, 2021. The agency will prioritize reviewing applications from individuals originating from the high-risk countries.
Broader Policy Developments
In addition to pausing immigration applications, the USCIS has also halted asylum decisions and determined that it would stop issuing visas to Afghans who aided U.S. military efforts. This series of changes highlights the administration’s ongoing efforts to scrutinize immigrants present in the country and those applying for entry.
Critics are raising concerns that these policies represent collective punishment, significantly affecting immigrants from affected nations. The pause on applications is part of broader immigration reforms prompted by national security considerations.
