The Trump administration announced on Tuesday a temporary halt to all immigration applications, including those for green cards and U.S. citizenship, from 19 non-European countries. This move is based on concerns related to national security and public safety. The affected countries were already subject to a partial travel ban in June, further tightening immigration restrictions – a key aspect of President Donald Trump’s policy agenda.
Among the countries impacted are Afghanistan and Somalia. The decision stems from a recent attack on U.S. National Guard members in Washington, where an Afghan man was arrested as a suspect. President Trump has also made disparaging remarks about Somalis, referring to them as “garbage” and stating a preference for not having them in the country.
Minnesota, particularly the Twin Cities metro area, is home to around 80,000 Somalis who have contributed economically and culturally. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey highlighted the positive impact of the Somali community, noting that the majority are American citizens. He expressed concerns that any immigration actions could inadvertently affect legal residents.
Trump’s recent actions include terminating temporary deportation protections for Somalis in Minnesota, citing concerns about “Somali gangs” without substantial evidence. Local officials have contradicted this narrative, clarifying that only 705 Somalis have Temporary Protected Status in the U.S.
The affected countries were already on U.S. restricted lists. Since his return to office in January, Trump has intensified immigration enforcement efforts, deploying federal agents to major cities and implementing stricter measures for asylum seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border. The administration’s focus has shifted towards reshaping legal immigration under the pretext of safeguarding national security and critiquing former President Joe Biden’s policies.
The list of countries subject to the new immigration pause includes Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. These countries faced severe immigration restrictions in June, including a suspension on entries with few exceptions. Additional countries on the list are Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.
The new policy mandates a hold on pending applications and requires immigrants from the affected countries to undergo a thorough re-review process, potentially including interviews, to assess national security and public safety risks. The memorandum referenced recent crimes involving immigrants, such as the National Guard attack, as a basis for the decision.
Sharvari Dalal-Dheini, senior director of government relations for the American Immigration Lawyers Association, reported instances of cancelled oath ceremonies, naturalization interviews, and adjustment of status interviews for individuals from the impacted countries.