New York, NY—The Trump administration has ordered the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to pause all asylum decisions, impacting every case approved under the Biden administration, including those filed by Afghans resettled through the "Operation Allies Welcome” program. Officers have also been instructed not to approve, deny, or close asylum applications currently pending with the agency. Additionally, the administration recently announced it is reviewing all green cards issued to people from 19 countries deemed of concern, including Afghanistan, Haiti, and Venezuela.
These moves, justified as a response to the shooting of two National Guard members, are part of the Trump administration’s continuous efforts to strip people of legal status and restrict established immigration pathways to meet the goals of their deportation agenda.
Murad Awawdeh, President and CEO, New York Immigration Coalition:
“The Trump administration’s latest announcements are part of an ongoing campaign to attack immigrants’ legal status and dismantle lawful pathways to safety. These cruel actions reflect a strategy to put increasing numbers of people on a direct path toward deportation, no matter the cost to our families, communities, or economy. Many of those affected have already undergone extensive vetting, often taking years, and arrived in the United States seeking safety, stability, and the opportunity to rebuild their lives. Stripping away these legal protections uproots individuals who have worked to establish homes and careers, creating fear and uncertainty for families, while destabilizing entire communities. These policies also weaken the protections guaranteed under the U.S. immigration law and put families in jeopardy, unjustly shattering their hopes for safety and dignity. We call on the Trump administration to reverse these policy decisions immediately.”