US Halts Green Card Applications from 19 Countries

The U.S. has paused all immigration applications from 19 “countries of concern,” affecting even pending green card applications, following a shooting incident involving two National Guard members in Washington, D.C. A memo from USCIS states that individuals from these countries will have their asylum and other benefits applications paused until further vetting guidelines are issued. The pause is a response to security concerns raised after a suspect from Afghanistan was charged with murder in the attack. Immigration attorney Rosanna Berardi noted that this policy change has created uncertainty and slower processing for affected applicants, raising legal questions.

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