Happy New Year! DHS pauses immigration applications for an additional 20 countries

NPR reports that the Department of Homeland Security is pausing the immigration applications from an additional 20 countries after an expansion of travel restrictions took effect on the New Year's Day. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in a memo announced that it would pause the review of all applications for visas, citizenship or asylum from noncitizens from the additional countries. "The memo also outlines plans to re-review applications of immigrants from these countries as far back as 2021. . . . The list, which is composed mostly of countries in Africa, includes Angola, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania and Zimbabwe." (bold added).

In December, the Trump administration announced the expansion of the list of countries with travel restrictions to the U.S. from 19 to 39, plus the Palestinian Authority.