Two Arab countries among them... The Trump administration suspends immigration applications for citizens of 19 countries.

Arab Sea Newspaper - Follow-ups

The administration of US President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday a series of new measures to limit immigration, including suspending the processing of all applications for permanent residency (green cards) and citizenship for citizens of 19 countries, including Afghanistan, Yemen, and Sudan. According to a memorandum issued by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services, the 12 countries subject to the travel ban since June include: Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen. The memorandum added 7 other countries to the list: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela. The agency explained that files related to citizens of these countries, including those who entered the United States after January 20, 2021, will be subject to extensive audits that may include re-examining previously decided applications, in order to "prevent terrorists from finding safe haven in the United States," according to the memorandum. These measures came after a shooting near the White House on November 26, which resulted in the death of one soldier and the injury of another, and the indictment of an Afghan citizen who entered the country as part of the evacuations from Afghanistan in 2021. According to the American Immigration Council, the decisions have caused concern among immigrants who were about to complete their citizenship procedures. In a related context, President Trump renewed his pledges to reduce immigration, stressing his desire for a permanent halt to the entry of immigrants from what he described as "Third World countries," while Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem confirmed that she is working to expand the list of countries covered by the ban. American media also reported that federal authorities are preparing for a campaign targeting Somali immigrants in Minnesota, at a time when local officials have announced their refusal to cooperate with these measures, affirming their continued support for the Somali community and immigrants in general.