WASHINGTON: In a sweeping escalation of his hardline stance, the Trump administration announced Tuesday a temporary halt to all immigration applications, including green cards and U.S. citizenship processes, from 19 non-European countries flagged for national security risks. The move builds on June’s partial travel ban, imposing a “thorough re-review” on pending cases, potentially including mandatory interviews to probe public safety threats.
The policy, detailed in an official memorandum, directly references last week’s deadly attack on U.S. National Guard members in Washington, where an Afghan suspect was arrested. One soldier was killed, another critically wounded in the shooting, fueling Trump’s recent inflammatory rhetoric against Somalis, whom he branded “garbage” unfit for America.
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Targeted nations include severely restricted ones like Afghanistan, Iran, Somalia, and Yemen, alongside partially banned countries such as Cuba, Haiti, and Venezuela. Exceptions are narrow, focusing on verifiable low-risk entries.
Immigration advocates decried the freeze. Sharvari Dalal-Dheini, senior director at the American Immigration Lawyers Association, reported widespread cancellations of oath ceremonies, naturalization interviews, and status adjustments for affected applicants, calling it a “devastating blow to families.”
Since reclaiming the White House in January, Trump has ramped up deportations and border enforcements, but this shift spotlights legal pathways. Critics, including Democrats, blame the administration for scapegoating immigrants while overlooking Biden-era vetting lapses. Supporters hail it as vital protection. The pause’s duration remains unspecified, pending re-assessments