President Donald Trump’s administration cited national security concerns for the move following an attack on National Guard members in Washington last week. An Afghan national was arrested as a suspect.
What is the US immigration ban?
Under the new policy, all applicants from the affected countries will have to go through an extensive vetting process. The administration has not specified how long the pause will last or whether additional nations could be added.
Officials said the change was intended to ensure the integrity of the immigration system and prevent what they called “security gaps.” Critics have warned the move could throw thousands of people into legal uncertainty while the review continues.
Many of the countries on the list were already under partial travel restrictions.
The countries facing the most severe sanctions include Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. With limited exceptions in these states, June saw a complete suspension of most entries.
Others on the list – Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela – had partial sanctions and will now face expanded investigations.
What does policy mean?
The new policy puts a hold on pending applications and mandates a comprehensive re-review of all cases from affected countries. This may include new interviews and security assessments.
Sharvari Dalal-Dheny, senior director of government relations for the American Immigration Lawyers Association, said the organization has received reports of canceled swearing-in ceremonies, naturalization interviews and adjustments of status-appointments for individuals from countries on the list.
Since returning to office in January, Trump has prioritized immigration enforcement, expanded federal deployments in major US cities and limited access to asylum at the US-Mexico border. While deportation has been central to his message, legal immigration has received comparatively less attention until now.
Minnesota Somali community targeted by ICE
Meanwhile, US federal officials are believed to be preparing a focused US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation in Minnesota that will primarily target Somali immigrants living in the country illegally.
A person familiar with the planning told the AP news agency that the ICE crackdown could begin in the coming days and would focus on individuals in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area who have final deportation orders.
US President Donald Trump has recently stepped up his rhetoric regarding the state’s Somali community in a move that community leaders say has heightened fears of profiling and heightened local concerns.
Edited by: Elisabeth Schumacher
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