No Green Cards or Citizenship Based on Home Country – Is That Legal?
The Dept. of Homeland Security recently said that under the president’s order they would “cancel naturalization ceremonies and halt immigration applications indefinitely” for citizens from 19 countries. Is that legal? How long will this last? What can you do to become a U.S. citizen or green card holder? Read on to find out.
Immigration is Banned, Even for Persons with NO Arrests
Travel and LEGAL immigration is banned for persons from Afghanistan, Chad, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Myanmar, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, and Syria. Travelers from the following countries cannot enter the United States with certain visas: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela. There are partial travel restrictions on persons from Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
USCIS issued policy memos placing a hold on “benefit applications – including green card and citizenship applications – for foreigners from these countries. This makes it impossible for persons to become U.S. citizens in an election year EVEN IF THEY HAVE LIVED IN THIS COUNTRY SINCE CHILDHOOD.
Does the Ban Include Dual Citizens?
The travel ban, as well as the pause on applications, may include dual citizens. These policies apply to anyone who is either a citizen of, or was born in, one of the named countries. Interviews of U.S. CITIZENS petitioning family members from other countries have also been canceled if the U.S. citizen was born in one of the named countries.
How Long Will Ban, Interview Cancellation, and Pause on Applications Continue?
Our government works by having the court system check and balance the executive branch (the president) when they go beyond the Constitution. Several law firms are working on class action lawsuits to challenge these policies. By cancelling the citizenship and green card interviews and halting the decisions – without outright denying the green card or citizenship cases – USCIS is trying to avoid losing in federal court. But because the Supreme Court has given almost complete power to the president, these policies might continue until Americans vote in 2026 to replace those in Congress (who will then create laws making these policies illegal) or until Americans vote in 2028 to replace the president.
If you are growing your family and need expert help with immigration, Call 954.385.0157 or request a chat through our website today to speak to an asylum immigration expert.
#ImmigrationLaw #GreenCardHelp #CitizenshipIssues #TravelBan #ImmigrationAttorney #USCIS #ImmigrationUpdates #FamilyImmigration #LegalImmigration #BlandonLaw
All team members speak Spanish.
Disclaimer – These entries are based on real life events. Family member names, when used, are real. Client names are changed for privacy.
