US Stops Immigration And Citizenship Processing For 19 Countries Over Security Concerns
The US government has suspended the processing of immigration and citizenship applications for nationals of 19 countries, including Afghanistan, Yemen and Haiti, according to an internal memo made public on Tuesday, in what officials describe as a major escalation of its migration crackdown.
The decision affects both green card and naturalisation applications for countries already facing travel restrictions announced by President Donald Trump in June. Other nations impacted include Venezuela, Sudan and Somalia.
The memo pointed to growing security concerns following last week’s shooting that left one National Guard soldier dead and another injured. The prime suspect, identified as an Afghan national who entered the US during the 2021 evacuation after the Taliban takeover, pleaded not guilty to murder charges on Tuesday.
US authorities said the pause is aimed at strengthening vetting procedures. The document stressed the role of the US Citizenship and Immigration Services in blocking potential security threats and ensuring that screening processes place American safety first, citing the recent attack as an example of the risks linked to rushed approvals.
On November 26, Trump announced plans to “permanently pause migration from all Third World Countries to allow the US system to fully recover.”
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem also pushed for tougher action, calling for broader bans on more countries. “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.”
In addition to the newly affected countries, existing travel restrictions already cover Burundi, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Cuba, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Iran, Laos, Libya, Myanmar, Sierra Leone, Togo and Turkmenistan.
Meanwhile, reports emerged of a planned large-scale immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota targeting Somali immigrants, a move that has sparked strong opposition from local leaders. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey insisted that the city’s support for the Somali community and all immigrants remains “rock solid and unwavering,” adding that state police would not cooperate with the operation.
