Trump Freezes Immigration Applications From 19 Countries
Donald Trump has announced a freeze on U.S. immigration applications from 19 countries. He returned to the White House earlier this year and has tightened immigration policies ever since. However, he escalated those efforts after last week’s deadly shooting in Washington, D.C.
Shooting Near Capitol Sparks Immediate Action
The shooting happened just a few blocks from the Capitol. A National Guard member died, and another remains in critical condition.
Authorities identified the suspected gunman as 29-year-old Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who entered the U.S. legally in 2021 under Joe Biden’s administration. He has pleaded not guilty to murder and assault charges.
After the attack, which some officials consider terror-related, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) immediately halted immigration requests from Afghanistan.
Freeze Expanded to 19 Nations
The administration has now broadened the freeze to include 19 countries, citing national security and public safety risks.
Along with Afghanistan, the freeze affects:
Burma (Myanmar), Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.
Officials say the number could rise even further.
Potential Expansion to 30 Countries
U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem has pushed for a full travel ban on “every country flooding our nation with killers, leeches, and entitlement junkies,” as she stated on December 1.
If implemented, the freeze could expand to 30 nations.
USCIS Defends New Policy
USCIS Director Joseph Edlow supported the policy and said his priority is strict vetting.
He stated:
“My primary responsibility is to ensure that every alien is vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible.”
Edlow argued that the previous administration weakened security measures by accelerating resettlement from high-risk countries. He added:
“American lives come first.”
Millions Potentially Affected
According to USCIS data, the new freeze could affect more than 1.4 million people with pending asylum applications, Sky News reports.