Summary
The Trump administration stopped immigration processing for people from 19 countries that had been affected by a travel ban. This pause includes applications for green cards and citizenship. The move follows a recent incident involving violence by an Afghan immigrant in Washington, D.C.
Key Facts
- The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) halted green card and citizenship applications from 19 countries under a travel ban.
- Countries affected include Venezuela, Haiti, Iran, Afghanistan, and 15 other nations.
- President Trump had announced plans to pause immigration from these countries following a violent incident involving an Afghan immigrant.
- Between fiscal years 2021 and early 2024, about 720,000 green cards were given to people from these countries.
- An immigration attorney in Texas reported that interviews for applicants from these countries have been canceled without explanation.
- The Trump administration criticized previous immigration policies, mentioning misuse of refugee pathways during high migration periods.
