Trump Administration Targets Naturalized Citizens in Immigration Crackdown
The Trump administration has introduced sweeping new immigration measures following a recent shooting involving an Afghan national. The policy affects asylum seekers, green card applicants, and even naturalized U.S. citizens, creating widespread uncertainty.
US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has paused all asylum decisions, citing the need for enhanced vetting. Green card applications from 19 “high-risk” countries, including Afghanistan, are now under re-examination, introducing potential delays and denials. President Trump stated he would pursue denaturalization of individuals he claims gained citizenship under lax Biden-era policies.
Afghan nationals are particularly affected. The State Department has suspended all visa issuances for Afghan passport holders, effectively halting the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program, leaving around 180,000 applicants stranded. USCIS is also reviewing refugees admitted since 2021, targeting nearly 200,000 cases for retroactive scrutiny—an unprecedented move in U.S. immigration history.
Critics warn the measures undermine trust in citizenship and constitute collective punishment, affecting millions for the actions of a single individual. Over 1.4 million asylum cases are now on hold, while immigration courts face a backlog of 2.4 million more cases, leaving families in prolonged separation and legal limbo.
