The United States government has suspended immigration applications for citizens of 19 countries, including Afghanistan, Yemen, and Haiti, according to an official memorandum released on Tuesday, marking a deeper shift in the ongoing nationwide crackdown on migration.
The directive pauses the processing of green card and citizenship applications for nationals from countries already covered under the travel restrictions announced in June by President Donald Trump. Other affected nations include Venezuela, Sudan, and Somalia.
Top US officials have recently signaled that more stringent immigration controls were imminent, a stance intensified by the shooting of two National Guard soldiers last week. The primary suspect—an Afghan national who entered the US during the 2021 evacuation from Afghanistan—has pleaded not guilty to murder charges.
According to the memo, “USCIS plays an instrumental role in preventing terrorists from seeking safe haven in the United States and ensuring that USCIS’ screening and vetting and adjudications prioritize the safety of the American people and uphold all US laws.”
It added that the US had witnessed “what a lack of screening, vetting, and prioritizing expedient adjudications can do to the American people,” referencing the alleged shooter.
Trump, who has long insisted on mass deportations of undocumented migrants, said on November 26 following the shooting that he intended to “permanently pause migration from all Third World Countries to allow the US system to fully recover.”
Homeland Security chief Kristi Noem also pushed for broader restrictions, saying, “I just met with the President. I am recommending a full travel ban on every damn country that’s been flooding our nation with killers, leeches, and entitlement junkies,” though she did not specify the countries.
The current list of restricted nations also includes Burundi, Chad, Republic of Congo, Cuba, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Iran, Laos, Libya, Myanmar, Sierra Leone, Togo, and Turkmenistan.
Meanwhile, reports emerged Tuesday that federal authorities are preparing a major immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota targeting Somali immigrants. Local leaders have objected, with Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey assuring residents, “Our values and our commitments to the Somali community, to every community of immigrants and people in our city is rock solid and will be unwavering.”
What You Should Know
The US government has intensified its immigration crackdown by halting green card and citizenship applications for citizens from 19 countries already under travel restrictions.
This move follows a high-profile shooting involving an Afghan national, prompting renewed debates on national security and immigration policies. President Donald Trump and senior officials argue that stricter vetting is necessary to protect Americans and prevent security lapses.
Critics, however, fear that these steps unfairly target vulnerable communities and may lead to aggressive enforcement actions, such as the reported upcoming operation in Minnesota focused on Somali immigrants.
