The Trump administration has paused United States immigration proceedings for those from 19 countries, impacting even those on track to become naturalized American citizens.
The 19 countries whose nationals have had their immigration applications put on hold are the places President Trump put travel bans on earlier this year. Back in June, Trump issued full travel bans on the U.S. arrivals of nationals from 12 different countries: Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. He also restricted U.S. arrivals by nationals from seven other countries — Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) detailed the country’s pause on immigration proceedings for the aforementioned nationals in a four-page December 2 memo. The subject line described the foreign nationals as “aliens from high-risk countries.” The document orders USCIS to stop processing asylum and benefit requests from nationals of the travel-ban countries. Moreover, it directed the organization’s staff to “conduct a comprehensive re-review of approved benefit requests” for foreigners from those targeted countries “who entered the United States on or after January 20, 2021.”
Members of the Trump administration have repeatedly claimed that former President Joe Biden allowed improperly vetted Afghan nationals into the U.S. as part of Operation Allies Welcome. The criticism followed the late-November fatal shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, D.C. Officials have now formally charged the Afghan national that they’ve named a suspect in connection with the incident.
What Happens Next Regarding The Immigration Application Pause?
The USCIS memo noted that the details of the immigration application pause are “effective immediately.” Further information stated that the specified foreign nationals with pending U.S. immigration processes will have their cases reanalyzed. The USCIS also says it will conduct an organizational overview. The memo emphasized that its review of foreign immigration cases is a matter of national security and public safety.
For those targeted, citizenship ceremonies, green card and asylum applications, and more life-changing decisions hang in the balance.
“This memorandum mandates that all aliens meeting these criteria undergo a thorough re-review process, including a potential interview and, if necessary, a re-interview, to fully assess all national security and public safety threats along with any other related grounds of inadmissibility or ineligibility,” says the USCIS. “An individualized, case-by-case review and assessment will be done of all relevant information and facts.”
“USCIS will also conduct a comprehensive review of all relevant policies, procedures, and operational guidance for compliance, accuracy, and needed improvements during this time,” the organization added.
Per NBC News, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson claimed the Trump administration is “making every effort to ensure individuals becoming citizens are the best of the best.”
The representative reportedly added, “Citizenship is a privilege, not a right. We will take no chances when the future of our nation is at stake.”
