The Trump administration announced on Tuesday a temporary halt on all immigration petitions, including applications for green cards and U.S. citizenship, from individuals originating from 19 non-European countries. This decision, made in the interest of national security and public safety, affects nations previously under a partial travel restriction in June, intensifying limitations on immigration—a central aspect of President Donald Trump’s political agenda.
Among the countries impacted are Afghanistan and Somalia. The official memo justifying this action referenced the recent attack on U.S. National Guard members in Washington, where an Afghan suspect was apprehended. One Guard member lost their life, and another sustained critical injuries in the incident.
President Trump has made derogatory remarks about Somalis, labeling them as “garbage” and expressing opposition to their presence in the U.S. Approximately 80,000 Somalis reside in Minnesota, with a significant population in the Twin Cities area, contributing economically and culturally to the community, as stated by Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey.
In a separate move, Trump terminated temporary deportation protections for Somalis in Minnesota, alleging the presence of “Somali gangs” causing distress in the state, despite lacking substantiating evidence. Local authorities disputed Trump’s assertions, revealing that 705 Somalis in the U.S. held Temporary Protected Status according to official records.
The list of countries affected by the recent immigration pause includes Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. These nations, already facing stringent immigration restrictions in June, now experience a complete suspension of entries with minimal exceptions. Additionally, countries like Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela, subject to partial limitations earlier, are also part of the targeted group.
Since resuming office in January, President Trump has prioritized immigration enforcement, deploying federal agents to major cities and turning away asylum seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border. The recent focus on reshaping legal immigration, particularly following the National Guard attack, underscores an intensified scrutiny on national security and a shift of blame towards former President Joe Biden’s policies.
The new policy mandates a reevaluation process, including potential interviews and reassessments, for immigrants from the affected countries to ascertain any national security or public safety risks. Recent criminal incidents involving immigrants, including the National Guard assault, were cited in the memorandum to justify the halt on pending applications.
Reports from the American Immigration Lawyers Association indicate the cancellation of oath ceremonies, naturalization interviews, and adjustment of status interviews for individuals from countries listed in the travel ban, reflecting the wide-reaching impact of this immigration pause.