The United States government has temporarily halted the processing of immigration applications from 19 countries in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, raising concerns over prolonged legal uncertainty for thousands of prospective immigrants.
The move comes in the wake of a recent attack on National Guard members in Washington, D.C., in which an Afghan national was arrested as a suspect. The administration cited national security concerns as justification for the suspension.
Under the new policy, all applicants from the affected countries must undergo a comprehensive vetting process, AFP reports. Officials have not specified the duration of the pause or whether additional countries might be added.
Countries Affected
The affected countries include Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen, many of which were already under partial travel restrictions.
The administration argued that the suspension is necessary to ensure the integrity of the U.S. immigration system and to prevent potential “security gaps.” Critics, however, warn that the policy could leave thousands of applicants in prolonged legal limbo.
Trump’s Thanksgiving Statement on Immigration
Earlier, President Donald Trump issued a sharply worded Thanksgiving message criticizing current U.S. immigration policies. In the statement, Trump described the refugee and migrant burden as a leading cause of social dysfunction, citing issues such as crime, overcrowded hospitals, and strained public resources.
Trump also outlined a broad plan to restrict immigration from what he described as “all Third World countries”, promising to terminate “illegal admissions” under the Biden administration, reduce federal benefits to noncitizens, and deport individuals considered security risks or public charges.
“Even as we have progressed technologically, Immigration Policy has eroded those gains and living conditions for many,” Trump stated, adding that the goal is to achieve a major reduction in illegal and disruptive populations.
National Guard Attack
The immigration policy shift follows an attack on two National Guard members in Washington, D.C., which the FBI is investigating as a potential act of terrorism. The victims, 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom and 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe, were part of a National Guard initiative aimed at curbing rising crime in the capital.
Authorities have defended the Guard deployment despite criticism, citing the need to protect communities and maintain public safety.
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