WASHINGTON – The US government has halted Green Card applications for 19 nations, citing urgent national security concerns. The freeze also affects U.S. citizenship cases, sparking widespread panic among immigrant communities.
The decision impacts countries already facing partial travel bans, including Afghanistan, Somalia, Iran, Libya, Yemen, and several others. The halt affects all immigration applications, including naturalization and adjustment-of-status requests.
Officials said the sudden freeze is a response to last week’s attack on National Guard members in Washington. An Afghan man was arrested as a suspect after one guard member was killed and another critically injured. The administration cited this incident as justification for the move.
President Trump simultaneously criticized Somali immigrants publicly, intensifying debate over the policy. The rhetoric has alarmed affected communities and human rights advocates.
According to Sharvari Dalal-Dheini of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, the freeze has already disrupted lives. Oath ceremonies, interviews, and Green Card appointments have been canceled without notice. Applicants report uncertainty about their future in the United States.
The 19 nations now under full restrictions are Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. Countries previously affected by partial bans include Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.
Immigration experts warn the freeze could have long-term effects on thousands of families hoping to relocate to the US. While officials claim the move is for public safety, critics say it disproportionately targets specific nations and communities.
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The suspension of Green Card processing represents one of the most severe immigration measures in recent U.S. history, creating fear and uncertainty for applicants worldwide.
