US Halts Immigration Applications For 19 Countries.

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The US government has suspended immigration applications from nationals of 19 countries, including Afghanistan, Yemen, and Haiti, according to a memo released Tuesday. This action is part of a wider effort to tighten migration controls.

The freeze affects the processing of green cards and citizenship for countries already under travel restrictions imposed by President Donald Trump in June.

Other affected countries include Venezuela, Sudan, and Somalia.

Recent signals from senior US officials suggest even stricter immigration rules are forthcoming, following the shooting of two National Guard soldiers last week.

The main suspect, an Afghan who entered the US during the 2021 evacuation, pleaded not guilty to murder charges on Tuesday.

The memo emphasized the role of US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in blocking terrorists from entering the country and ensuring safety by thorough screening and vetting.

It pointed to the recent shooting as an example of the consequences of inadequate screening and rushed processing.

After the attack, Trump declared on November 26 his plan to “permanently pause migration from all Third World Countries” to allow the US immigration system to stabilize.

US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem also recommended on Monday expanding the travel ban list.

“I just met with the President. I’m proposing a total travel ban on every country that’s been flooding our nation with killers, parasites, and freeloaders,” she tweeted on X, without naming the countries.

Besides the newly affected countries, the current ban includes Burundi, Chad, Republic of Congo, Cuba, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Iran, Laos, Libya, Myanmar, Sierra Leone, Togo, and Turkmenistan.

Meanwhile, reports emerged that federal authorities plan a major immigration crackdown in Minnesota targeting Somali immigrants, sparking resistance from local leaders.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey affirmed the city’s strong support for the Somali community and all immigrants, pledging that state police would not assist in the enforcement.