Trending 
The United States has stopped accepting immigration applications from citizens of 19 countries, including Afghanistan, Yemen, and Haiti, following an official memorandum released on Tuesday. The move expands the government’s efforts to restrict migration and comes after President Donald Trump’s travel limitations announced in June. Nations affected also include Venezuela, Sudan, and Somalia.
US officials recently signalled a tightening of immigration policies, a stance reinforced by last week’s shooting of two National Guard soldiers. The main suspect — an Afghan who entered the US during the 2021 evacuation after the foreign troop withdrawal — has pleaded not guilty to murder.
The memo stated that the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) plays a central role in preventing terrorists from gaining refuge in the country, adding that improved screening is essential to protect Americans. It referenced the recent shooting incident, arguing that insufficient vetting can endanger the public.
Trump, who campaigned on mass deportations, declared on 26 November that migration from “Third World countries” would be paused to allow the system to “recover”. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem later urged broader travel bans, saying she recommended expanding restrictions to additional countries.
The existing list of travel-restricted countries also covers Burundi, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Cuba, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Iran, Laos, Libya, Myanmar, Sierra Leone, Togo, and Turkmenistan.
Meanwhile, US media reported plans for a major immigration enforcement action in Minnesota targeting Somali nationals. Local authorities rejected federal participation requests, with Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey affirming that the city would stand firmly by its immigrant communities.
