Key Takeaways:
- The Trump administration has halted all immigration applications from 19 countries due to national security concerns.
- The pause includes citizenship ceremonies for legal U.S. permanent residents from the restricted countries.
- The move is a response to the shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, D.C., allegedly by an Afghan evacuee.
- The administration is reviewing all immigration benefits granted by the Biden administration to individuals from "Countries of Concern".
- The list of restricted countries may be expanded to include up to 30 nations.
Introduction to the Trump Administration’s Immigration Policy
The Trump administration has taken a significant step to restrict legal immigration pathways by halting all immigration applications from 19 countries. This move is in response to the shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, D.C., last week, allegedly by an Afghan evacuee who entered the U.S. in 2021 under the Biden administration. The internal U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) guidance, obtained by CBS News, directs employees to stop final adjudication on all cases involving individuals from the 19 restricted countries. This pause includes the completion of citizenship ceremonies for legal U.S. permanent residents from these countries who were on the cusp of becoming naturalized American citizens.
The Scope of the Immigration Crackdown
The new guidance indicates that the immigration crackdown directed by the Trump administration is much broader in scope than previously reported. The administration had publicly announced a series of immigration restrictions, including a pause on all asylum decisions by USCIS, a categorical suspension of visa and immigration processing for Afghans, and a review of green card cases involving immigrants from the 19 countries on the travel ban. However, the administration had not publicly announced that it had also frozen all USCIS cases, including citizenship requests, involving nationals of the 19 countries on the list. To qualify for U.S. citizenship, immigrants typically must have been legal permanent residents for 3 or 5 years, depending on their cases.
Response from the Department of Homeland Security
In a statement to CBS News, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees USCIS, did not dispute the planned suspension of applications. The agency stated that "the Trump Administration is making every effort to ensure individuals becoming citizens are the best of the best." DHS added that "we will take no chances when the future of our nation is at stake" and that the administration is reviewing all immigration benefits granted by the Biden administration to aliens from "Countries of Concern." On Tuesday, USCIS posted a memo online, dated December 2, memorializing the immigration restrictions the administration has announced since last week’s attack.
The Memo and Its Implications
The memo formalized the suspension of asylum requests overseen by USCIS for all nationalities pending a "comprehensive review"; the pause on all immigration applications filed by immigrants from the 19 countries listed on the travel ban, regardless of when they entered the U.S.; and the "re-review" of the cases of nationals of those countries who arrived after former President Joe Biden took office in January 2021 and whose requests were approved. The policy states that everyone who falls into those categories will now be subject to a "thorough re-review process, including a potential interview and, if necessary, a re-interview, to fully assess all national security and public safety threats along with any other related grounds of inadmissibility or ineligibility," including suspected terrorism ties or criminality.
Reactions from Immigration Lawyers and Experts
Immigration lawyers this week reported that some of their clients’ cases, including citizenship ceremonies, had been halted or canceled. Michael Valverde, a former top USCIS official, said that the agency has previously enacted "tactical" pauses on certain groups of cases if additional vetting or procedures were needed. However, he called the Trump administration’s move "unprecedented," stating that "the difference is this is for a large group of individuals and in every category of immigration benefit." The move has raised concerns among immigration lawyers and advocates, who argue that it will cause significant delays and uncertainty for individuals seeking to become U.S. citizens or obtain other immigration benefits.
Potential Expansion of the Travel Ban
Earlier on Tuesday, CBS News reported that Trump administration officials are considering expanding the travel ban to encompass more countries, in response to last week’s shooting. The total list of nations whose nationals could face travel and immigration restrictions on national security grounds could grow to around 30, U.S. officials said. This potential expansion has raised concerns among immigration advocates, who argue that it will further restrict the ability of individuals from certain countries to seek safety and opportunity in the United States. The move is likely to be met with legal challenges and criticism from immigrant rights groups, who argue that it is discriminatory and violates the principles of U.S. immigration law.
