What you need to know about Trump's extensive changes to US immigration policy

Following the fatal shooting of two National Guard members, allegedly by an Afghan national, former President Donald Trump is intensifying his immigration restrictions. In response to the incident, which claimed the life of guard member Sarah Beckstrom and left Andrew Wolfe critically injured, Trump instructed the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to temporarily halt all pending asylum applications.

USCIS has since implemented a series of sweeping policy changes affecting asylum requests, green card processing, and citizenship applications. The agencys latest directive, highlighted in a memo released on Tuesday, reinforces a pause on reviewing approximately 1.5 million pending asylum applicationsa measure first indicated by USCIS Director Joseph Edlow via social media last week. Notably, the suspension does not extend to immigration courts, where most asylum cases are currently adjudicated.

This shift represents a stark reversal for the Trump administration, which had previously focused on rapidly reducing the asylum backlog. According to the latest USCIS quarterly report, completed asylum cases surged to 135,091, nearly five times the number from the previous year. Denials also increased sixfold to 6,850, while the overall backlog saw only a modest decrease after years of growth since 2021.

Increased Scrutiny for Nationals from 19 Countries

The memo also calls for a suspension of processing a wide range of immigration benefitsincluding work permits, green cards, naturalization, and family sponsorshipsfor citizens of 19 countries deemed high-risk. This move effectively bars nationals from Afghanistan, Burundi, Chad, Cuba, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Laos, Libya, Myanmar, the Republic of the Congo, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Togo, Turkmenistan, Venezuela, and Yemen from applying for these benefits. Travel from these nations to the U.S. is already restricted, and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has proposed expanding the list to roughly 30 countries.

Comprehensive Review of Approved Applications

The directive further mandates a thorough re-examination of all immigration benefits granted to individuals from these 19 countries since January 20, 2021, the day President Joe Biden assumed office. The review could include interviews or re-interviews to evaluate potential national security and public safety risks, as well as other eligibility issues. USCIS will verify if applicants are flagged in federal terrorist databases or if their identities cannot be confirmed.

Trump has repeatedly criticized the Biden administrations handling of Afghan evacuees in 2021, claiming insufficient vetting. Many of these evacuees, including Rahmanullah Lakanwalthe alleged shooter in the recent attackhad worked with the U.S. military. Trump stated that the process lacked proper screening and warned of further actions against individuals deemed risky.

Legal Challenges Anticipated

Experts anticipate that these policy changes will face legal challenges. Denise Gilman, co-director of the Immigration Clinic at the University of Texas, emphasized that Afghan asylum applicants had already undergone extensive screening, with interviews often lasting six to eight hours. She expects courts to eventually restore the processing of asylum claims, but notes that in the interim, the pause will worsen backlogs and affect applicants.

Author: Noah Whitman