Washington – Families across the globe are facing a period of intense uncertainty as the Department of Homeland Security officially pauses immigration processing for 20 additional nations.
The new order that became effective on January 1 applies to a broad spectrum of legal avenues, such as visas, green cards, and asylum applications.
This freeze of the US immigration applications is one of the extensions of travel bans that have expanded the list of countries under restrictions to 39, and more than 19 countries, including the Palestinian Authority.
Impact on African Nations and Global Families
The extended list mostly comprises African countries, including Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, and Angola.
This news would be heartbreaking for many who have spent years following the legal procedures to join their families or find a better life.
According to the memo issued by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), not only will the new filings be suspended, but the agency also intends to review all the US immigration applications submitted as early as 2021.
This backward checkup has caused a lot of concern to the present inhabitants about the security of their legality.
Security and Public Safety Justifications
According to the governmental officials, the pause is needed to safeguard national security and ensure the safety of people.
The administration claims that the high visa overstays and possible fraud in such countries necessitate the implementation of a stricter screening procedure.
The agency plans to undertake an in-depth investigation of those already in the country by halting the circulation of a US immigration applications.
This policy change follows high-profile security incidents late last year, which led the administration to abandon old processing standards.
Exceptions and Future Outlook
Although the restrictions are general, the government has made several exceptions. These are primarily provided to foreign athletes and teams competing in significant global events such as the World Cup and of Olympic Games, all of which the US hosts this year.
But to the common man who is waiting in a US immigration applications, the wait appears to be endless. With the agency struggling to clear a huge backlog, many are left wondering when and whether the door to legal migration will be open to them again.
