By REBECCA SANTANA, Related Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Since final week’s taking pictures of two Nationwide Guard members within the nation’s capital by a suspect who’s an Afghan nationwide, the Trump administration introduced a flurry of insurance policies geared toward making it tougher for some foreigners to enter or keep within the nation.
The administration mentioned it was pausing asylum choices, reexamining inexperienced card functions for individuals from international locations “of concern” and halting visas for Afghans who assisted the U.S. struggle effort.
Days earlier than the taking pictures, a memo obtained by The Related Press mentioned the administration would evaluation the circumstances of all refugees who entered the U.S. throughout the Biden administration.
The stepped up effort to limit immigration has been harshly criticized by refugee advocates and those that work with Afghans, saying it quantities to collective punishment. Critics are additionally saying it’s a waste of presidency sources to reopen circumstances which have already been processed.
The Trump administration says the brand new insurance policies are vital to make sure that these getting into the nation — or are already right here — don’t pose a safety menace.
Right here’s a take a look at the most important modifications introduced over roughly every week:
All asylum choices suspended
The director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Providers, Joseph Edlow, mentioned on the social platform X final week that asylum choices might be paused “until we can ensure that every alien is vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible.”
Moreover the publish, no formal steering has been put ahead, so particulars stay scarce concerning the deliberate pause.
Individuals looking for asylum should present to U.S. officers a menace of persecution in the event that they have been despatched again to their residence nation, whether or not due to race, nationality or different grounds. In the event that they’re granted asylum, they’re allowed to remain within the U.S. and ultimately apply for a inexperienced card after which citizenship.
The Afghan suspect within the Nationwide Guard taking pictures was granted asylum earlier this 12 months, in accordance with advocate group #AfghanEvac.
The suitable to use for asylum was already restricted by the Trump administration. In January, Trump issued an government order primarily halting asylum for individuals who have come into the nation by way of the southern border. These circumstances usually undergo immigration courts that are overseen by the Division of Justice.
USCIS oversees the asylum course of for foreigners the federal government isn’t attempting to take away through immigration courts. Whereas Trump’s January order didn’t have an effect on these circumstances, Edlow’s social media publish suggests they may now come below further scrutiny. Edlow didn’t say how lengthy the company’s pause on asylum choices would final or what occurs to individuals whereas these choices are paused.
Caseloads have been rising for all sorts of asylum functions. The variety of asylum circumstances at USCIS rose from 241,280 in 2022 to a file 456,750 in 2023, in accordance with the Workplace of Homeland Safety Statistics.
A concentrate on international locations ‘of concern’
On Nov. 27, Edlow mentioned his company was conducting a “full scale, rigorous reexamination” of each inexperienced card for individuals he mentioned come from “every country of concern.”
“American safety is non negotiable,” Edlow mentioned.
The company mentioned in a press launch that very same day that it was issuing new steering that would make it harder for individuals from 19 international locations the administration considers “high-risk,” together with Afghanistan, once they apply for immigration advantages corresponding to making use of for inexperienced playing cards or to remain within the U.S. longer.
The administration had already banned journey to the U.S. for residents from 12 of these international locations and restricted entry for individuals from seven others.
No visas for Afghans
Different stricter stricter measures are additionally directed at Afghans.
On Nov. 26, USCIS mentioned it will be suspending all “immigration requests relating to Afghan nationals.” That might have an effect on Afghans already dwelling within the U.S. who’re making use of for inexperienced playing cards or work permits or permission to deliver relations to the U.S.
Individually, Secretary of State Marco Rubio introduced late Friday on X that the State Division has briefly stopped issuing visas for all individuals touring on Afghan passports.
The Trump administration had already severely restricted journey and immigration from Afghanistan. The one avenue that had remained open was the Particular Immigrant Visa program. Created by Congress, it allowed Afghans who carefully supported the U.S. struggle effort in Afghanistan and confronted retribution due to their work to to migrate to America.
However the State Division’s announcement means even that avenue is now closed.
Based on #AfghanEvac, a gaggle that advocates for Afghans coming to the U.S., about 180,000 Afghans have been within the strategy of making use of for the SIV program.
FILE – Law enforcement officials block a road as demonstrators march at a protest opposing “Operation Midway Blitz” and the presence of ICE, Sept. 9, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Picture/Erin Hooley, File)
A evaluation of refugees admitted below the Biden administration
Even earlier than the taking pictures of two Nationwide Guard members, the Trump administration was planning a sweeping evaluation of tens of 1000’s of immigrants who entered the U.S. throughout the Biden administration as a part of the U.S. Refugee Help Program.
That program, first launched in 1980, oversees the method by which individuals fleeing persecution can come to the U.S. Refugees are distinct from individuals looking for asylum, though they meet the identical standards. Refugees have to use and wait exterior the U.S. to be admitted whereas asylum-seekers accomplish that as soon as they attain the U.S.
Trump suspended the refugee program the day he took workplace and solely a trickle of refugees have been admitted since then, both white South Africans or individuals admitted as a part of a lawsuit looking for to restart the refugee program.
Then on Nov. 21, Edlow mentioned in a memo obtained by The Related Press that the administration was going to evaluation all refugees admitted to the U.S. throughout the Biden administration. That’s almost 200,000 refugees.
Advocates say refugees already endure rigorous vetting.
