The Trump administration announced on Tuesday a temporary halt on all immigration applications, including green card and U.S. citizenship processing, from 19 non-European countries. The decision, made in the interest of national security and public safety, affects individuals from countries previously included in a partial travel ban enforced in June, further tightening immigration regulations, a cornerstone of President Donald Trump’s political agenda.
Among the nations affected are Afghanistan and Somalia. The official memorandum supporting the new policy references the recent attack on U.S. National Guard members in Washington, involving an Afghan suspect. Trump has also made derogatory remarks about Somalis, referring to them as “garbage” and stating a desire to keep them out of the country.
Minnesota, where approximately 80,000 Somalis reside, mainly in the Twin Cities metro area, has seen positive contributions from the community, according to Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. Concerns have been raised about the potential impact on legal residents amid Trump’s actions, including the termination of temporary deportation protections for Somalis in the state.
The list of targeted countries, already facing restrictions in the U.S., includes Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. Additionally, countries such as Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela face partial restrictions.
Since his term began in January, Trump has focused on enforcing immigration laws, deploying federal agents in major cities, and tightening asylum procedures at the U.S.-Mexico border. The recent measures following the National Guard incident indicate a shift towards reshaping legal immigration with an emphasis on national security and criticism of former President Joe Biden’s policies.
The new policy requires a reevaluation of pending applications from the affected countries, including potential interviews to assess security risks. Recent crimes involving immigrants, like the National Guard attack, were cited as reasons for the updated measures. Reports from the American Immigration Lawyers Association indicate disruptions in oath ceremonies, naturalization interviews, and status adjustment proceedings for individuals impacted by the travel ban.
