Trump halts green card and citizenship applications for 19 countries on travel ban list

In a swift and decisive response to a tragic shooting incident last week, the United States government has announced a halt to immigration applications from citizens of nineteen countries previously subjected to travel restrictions by former President Donald Trump.

This sweeping measure comes in the wake of a shooting involving two National Guard members in Washington, D.C., allegedly perpetrated by an Afghan national. One National Guard member died and the other was critically injured.

The suspect, who recently pleaded not guilty to murder charges, reportedly entered the US during mass evacuations from Afghanistan in 2021 when foreign forces withdrew from the region.

The incident has ignited a renewed focus on immigration and national security, leading to increased scrutiny and the tightening of immigration policies across the board.

As stated in an official memorandum released earlier this week, the countries affected by this latest decision include Afghanistan, Yemen, and Haiti, along with Venezuela, Sudan, Somalia, Burundi, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Cuba, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Iran, Laos, Libya, Myanmar, Sierra Leone, Togo, and Turkmenistan.

Senior US officials have indicated that the government intends to further restrict immigration, citing security concerns as a paramount priority.

“USCIS plays an instrumental role in preventing terrorists from seeking safe haven in the United States,” the memorandum noted, emphasizing the organisation's commitment to ensuring that thorough screening and stringent vetting processes are in place to uphold the safety of American citizens.

The recent shooting incident has brought to light the potential dangers associated with inadequate immigration policies, prompting the government to take action in a bid to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

THE MERCURY