US suspends immigration applications for 19 countries

2025-12-04 11:47:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

US suspends immigration applications for 19 countries
Since Donald Trump took office as President of the United States, immigration detentions have increased across the country.

On Tuesday, the US government suspended the processing of all immigration applications from 19 countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

President Donald Trump's administration cited national security concerns as the basis for the move, following an attack on National Guard members in Washington last week. An Afghan national has been detained as a suspect.

What does the US immigration ban include?

Under the new policy, all applicants from affected countries must go through a rigorous vetting process. The administration has not specified how long the suspension will last or whether other countries might be added.

Authorities say the change is intended to ensure the integrity of the immigration system and prevent what they call "security loopholes." Critics warn that the move could leave thousands of people in a legal limbo while the review continues.

Some of the countries on the list were already subject to a partial travel ban. The countries facing the most severe restrictions are Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. These countries have seen complete suspensions of most entry, with limited exceptions.

Other countries on the list — Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela — had partial restrictions and will now be subject to enhanced monitoring.

What does this policy mean?

The new policy suspends pending applications and requires a full review of all cases from affected countries. This may include new interviews and security assessments.

Sharvari Dalal-Dheini, senior director of government relations at the American Immigration Lawyers Association, said the organization had received reports of cancellations of swearing-in ceremonies, naturalization interviews and adjustment of status appointments for people from the countries on the list.

Since returning to office in January, Trump has prioritized immigration enforcement, expanding the deployment of federal units to major U.S. cities and further restricting access to asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border. While deportations have been central to his message, legal immigration has received less attention until now.

Minnesota's Somali community targeted

Meanwhile, US federal authorities are believed to be preparing a targeted Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation in Minnesota, which would focus primarily on Somali immigrants living in the country illegally.

A person familiar with the planning told the AP news agency that the ICE raid could begin in the coming days and would target people in the Minneapolis-St Paul area who have final deportation orders.

US President Donald Trump has recently stepped up his rhetoric against the country's Somali community, with comments that community leaders say have heightened fears of discrimination and fueled local concerns. /DW