US Halts Immigration Applications from 19 Countries
In a significant and controversial move, the Trump administration has suspended all immigration applications from 19 non-European countries, citing national security and public safety concerns. The decision affects green card and U.S. citizenship processing for individuals from these countries, and it deepens what has been seen as a remarkable crackdown on legal immigration pathways in recent days.
Background and Context
The announcement comes following a partial travel ban imposed on these 19 nations in June. The countries affected - which include Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Cuba, among others - will have applications for permanent resident cards and naturalization suspended. This decision extends to individuals from these countries who entered the U.S. on or after January 20, 2021, and will be subjected to a re-review process that could include an interview to screen for potential national security and public safety risks.
The Trump administration has pointed to Section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act,
which allows the president to suspend the entry
of non-U.S. citizens whenever it is deemed detrimental
to the national interest, as legal support for the move.
Key Developments
In addition to this, President Trump announced intentions to permanently pause
migration from all Third World Countries
to allow the U.S. system to fully recover. However, he did not specify which countries this would include or what he meant by a permanent pause
.
On a related note, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it has halted all asylum decisions following a recent shooting incident in Washington, D.C., involving an Afghan national.
Implications and Reactions
Critics have warned that this decision may leave thousands of people in a legal limbo. However, the Trump administration has defended the move as necessary for national security, indicating plans to tie U.S. security to an increased focus on legal immigration.
Current Status
As of now, all immigration applications, including green card and U.S. citizenship processing, from these 19 non-European countries have been paused. Also, all asylum decisions have been suspended until further notice. The situation continues to be dynamic, and further developments are expected based on the administration's evolving immigration policy.