The Trump administration on Tuesday stopped immigration applications presented citizens of 19 countries they already face restrictions on travel to the United States, according to a USCIS memo.
“USCIS considered that this guidance may result in a delay in adjudication of some pending applications and weighed these consequences against the agency's urgent need to ensure that applicants are screened and vetted to the maximum extent possible,” the agency said in a statement. Four page policy memorandum.
“Ultimately, USCIS concluded that the burden of processing delays that would be borne by some applicants is necessary and appropriate in this case when weighed against the agency's obligations to protect and preserve national security,” it added.
New York Times first reported immigration pause that applies to both green card and citizenship applicants.
A USCIS office spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the new policy Tuesday evening.
The move will take place less than a week after two National Guard members were shot and killed patrolled Washington, D.C., leaving one dead and another seriously injured. The suspect who pleaded not guilty to murder Tuesday is an Afghan national who entered the United States legally during the Biden administration and was granted asylum after President Donald Trump took office for a second time.
According to USCIS, more than 1.4 million people have pending asylum claims that could be affected by the new pause.
The backlog of applications involves people from 19 countries designated as high-risk by the Trump administration who are trying to get their immigration status through the agency. The list is primarily aimed at countries in Africa and Asia.
In June, Trump signed an executive order completely banning citizens of 12 countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. from entering the United States and partial restrictions on the entry of citizens of seven other countries: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela.
USCIS Director Joseph Edlow said in an interview with Newsmax on Monday that following the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan in 2021, he does not believe Afghan nationals coming to the United States have been “properly vetted.”
His office said on Monday on X“Nothing can be ruled out until every foreigner has been screened and screened to the maximum extent possible.”
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Monday on X that she met with Trump and recommended “A complete travel ban on every damn country that has infested our country with murderers, leeches and drug addicts.”
