The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) paused the processing of immigration applications from an additional 20 countries, effective January 1. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced the pause in a memo released Thursday, stating it would affect all pending applications for visas, green cards, citizenship, or asylum from immigrants originating from these nations.
The memo further detailed plans to re-review applications from immigrants from these countries dating back to 2021. The list of affected countries primarily includes those in Africa, such as Angola, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe.
The decision follows the Trump administration's expansion last month of travel restrictions impacting these nations. The rationale behind the initial travel restrictions and the subsequent application pause centers on national security concerns and the need to ensure thorough vetting processes, according to DHS officials. These officials claim that some countries lack sufficiently robust systems for verifying the identities of their citizens and sharing critical information with the U.S.
"We are committed to ensuring the integrity of our immigration system and protecting national security," a DHS spokesperson said in a statement. "These measures are necessary to address identified deficiencies in identity management and information sharing."
Immigration lawyers and advocacy groups have criticized the move, arguing that it will disproportionately affect individuals seeking legitimate pathways to immigrate to the United States and could lead to prolonged family separations. Some critics suggest the policy is discriminatory and lacks transparency.
"This is yet another example of the administration using national security as a pretext to restrict legal immigration," said Eleanor Acer, director of refugee protection at Human Rights First. "These blanket pauses inflict significant hardship on individuals and families seeking to build new lives in the U.S."
USCIS has not released specific data on the number of applications affected by the pause. The agency stated that it will provide further guidance to applicants from the listed countries regarding the status of their cases and any required actions. The pause will remain in effect until DHS determines that the identified deficiencies have been adequately addressed by the respective countries. The situation remains fluid, and further updates are expected as DHS continues to assess the security protocols of the affected nations.
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