Trump administration halts immigration applications from 19 non-European countries

The United States government has indefinitely suspended immigration applications from 19 countries previously subjected to travel restrictions, citing national security concerns. This decision, announced by US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), also places an immediate hold on all asylum applications, regardless of the applicants nationality.

A policy memo published on the USCIS website directs a review of individuals from high-risk countries of concern who were admitted to the US after January 20, 2021, the start of the Biden administration. The move follows a recent violent incident in Washington, DC, where two National Guard members were shot, allegedly by an Afghan national who entered the US in 2021 and received asylum under Trump-era policies.

USCIS is committed to ensuring that all individuals from high-risk nations do not pose a threat to national security or public safety, the memo states. It emphasizes that immigration authorities will fully exercise their power to scrutinize applications from those who may present risks.

The suspension expands the Trump administrations previous travel ban, which fully restricted entry from Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. Partial restrictions were applied to Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela. For the first time, the policy now affects individuals already present in the US, subjecting them to renewed reviews and potential interviews.

USCIS plans to prioritize immigrants for review within 90 days, potentially referring cases to immigration enforcement or other law enforcement agencies. The memo cites recent security incidents, including the Washington, DC attack and a foiled election-related plot in Oklahoma, as reasons for enhanced scrutiny.

Rahmanullah Lakanwal, the 29-year-old accused in the Washington, DC attack, has pleaded not guilty. Meanwhile, US officials are implementing broader immigration enforcement efforts, including targeted operations in multiple cities, sparking protests and mass detentions.

The Trump administration has also paused visa issuance for Afghan nationals and continues to pursue legal and executive actions aimed at tightening immigration controls, including attempts to challenge birthright citizenship and suspend federal benefits for certain non-citizens.

Immigration advocates have raised concerns over these measures, noting disruptions to naturalization ceremonies, interviews, and other legal immigration processes for people from affected countries.

Author: Ethan Caldwell