Trump Stops Citizenship and Green Card Processing for 19 Countries After Attack Near White House

Washington DC (The Uttam Hindu): US President Donald Trump has announced an immediate halt to citizenship and green card processing for citizens of 19 countries. The move comes after an Afghan refugee opened fire on National Guard personnel near the White House. The affected countries include Afghanistan, Myanmar, Burundi, Chad, Congo, Cuba, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Laos, Libya, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Togo, Turkmenistan, Venezuela and Yemen.

USCIS Suspends All Applications From These Countries

According to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), all ongoing applications related to immigration, citizenship, and green cards from these countries have been temporarily stopped. Trump had already imposed a travel ban on these nations earlier. As per the new order, individuals who entered the US after 20 January 2021 will undergo fresh screening and interviews.

Trump Defends Decision, Calls Immigration Policies ‘Flawed’

Trump claims these measures will reduce illegal and potentially disruptive populations. He argues that the US was relatively free from social problems after World War II, but poor immigration policies led to rising crime and disorder. He stated that despite technological progress, flawed immigration systems have negatively affected American citizens. According to him, the only effective solution is “reverse migration,” meaning sending people back to their home countries.