The Digest:
The United States has temporarily halted the processing of green card and citizenship applications filed by nationals of Nigeria and 18 other countries newly added to its expanded travel ban. The freeze, directed by the Trump administration, affects immigrants already living legally in the U.S. who are seeking permanent residency or naturalization.
Key Points:
- The suspension follows the expansion of the U.S. travel ban to include 20 additional countries
- Applications for permanent residency and citizenship are now frozen for affected nationals
- Many impacted are legal residents in the process of adjusting their status
- The move came after a Thanksgiving week shooting in Washington DC allegedly carried out by an Afghan national
- Full travel bans apply to Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, and Syria
- Partial restrictions affect Nigeria, Angola, Benin, Senegal, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and 10 others
- The U.S. also suspended decisions on asylum cases and all visa processing for Afghans
- A U.S. official confirmed the freeze now extends to nationals of the newly listed countries
Sources: CBS News, Vanguard
