US Halts Immigration Applications for 19 Nations Following National Guard Shooting

Policy shift follows National Guard shooting, deepening tensions over migration

The United States has abruptly paused immigration applications for citizens from 19 nations, including Afghanistan, Yemen, Haiti, Venezuela, Sudan, and Somalia. The move, confirmed in an official memorandum released Tuesday, underscores a sweeping shift in Washington’s approach to migration and visa processing.

The freeze affects green card and citizenship applications for countries already under travel restrictions since June, a policy initiated under President Donald Trump.

The Shooting That Shook Washington

Senior US officials have linked the decision to last week’s fatal attack on National Guard soldiers, in which one soldier was killed. The main suspect, an Afghan national, entered the United States during the 2021 mass evacuations from Afghanistan as foreign forces withdrew. On Tuesday, the suspect pleaded not guilty to murder charges.

The memorandum cited the incident as evidence of gaps in prior immigration screening:

“USCIS plays an instrumental role in preventing terrorists from seeking safe haven in the United States and ensuring that USCIS’ screening and vetting and adjudications prioritise the safety of the American people and uphold all US laws.”

Officials framed the pause as a necessary measure to protect American citizens while the immigration system adjusts to increased security scrutiny.

Trump’s Push for a Broader Freeze

This action follows comments from former President Trump, who has long campaigned on cracking down on undocumented migration. On November 26, Trump called for “a permanent pause of migration from all Third World Countries”, claiming the pause would allow the US immigration system to recover and function more securely.

Trump’s rhetoric, amplified on social media platforms, drew sharp criticism from immigrant rights groups who argue the blanket restriction unfairly targets entire populations based on nationality rather than individual risk.

Homeland Security Advocates Expansion

US Homeland Security chief Kristi Noem has publicly supported extending the restrictions. On X (formerly Twitter), Noem wrote:

“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.”

Although she did not specify additional nations, her comments signal a hardline approach to immigration and national security that could widen the policy’s reach beyond the current 19 countries.

Local Backlash and Community Concerns

The pause has already sparked pushback in areas with large immigrant communities. Federal authorities reportedly plan a major enforcement operation targeting Somali immigrants in Minnesota. Local leaders, including Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, have pledged resistance:

“Our values and our commitments to the Somali community, to every community of immigrants and people in our city, is rock solid and will be unwavering.”

Civil rights groups warn that such operations risk dividing communities and eroding trust between law enforcement and residents, particularly in cities where immigrant populations are integral to local economies and social fabric.

Global Implications and the Road Ahead

The freeze on immigration applications highlights a broader global debate: how to balance national security with humanitarian and ethical obligations. For the US, these restrictions will ripple across visa offices worldwide, delaying family reunifications, asylum claims, and long-term residency processes.

Social media reactions in affected countries have ranged from shock to outrage, with many noting that individuals with no links to criminal activity are caught in the net. Analysts predict that if similar policies persist, it could strain US diplomatic relations and fuel criticism from human rights organisations.

While Washington frames the measures as defensive, communities in the US and abroad see them as a dramatic escalation in a years-long crackdown on migration, a development that may reshape immigration policy for years to come.

{Source: IOL}

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