Washington: The US government has announced a suspension of immigration processing for applicants from 19 countries, citing a need to tighten national security screenings. This decision is expected to affect thousands of individuals, potentially leaving them in a state of legal uncertainty. The suspension, which targets countries in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, follows an attack on National Guard members in Washington, with an Afghan national being arrested as a suspect. According to Deutsche Welle, the administration of President Donald Trump has introduced a comprehensive vetting process for all applicants from the affected nations. The administration has not disclosed the duration of this pause or whether more countries might be included in the future. Officials assert that this measure is aimed at preserving the integrity of the US immigration system and addressing perceived "security gaps." Critics, however, express concerns about the legal limbo that many applicants might face as the review proce eds. The countries facing the strictest restrictions, including Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen, experienced a full suspension of most entries in June, with only limited exceptions. Other countries such as Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela, which previously faced partial restrictions, will now encounter heightened scrutiny. The new policy mandates a hold on pending immigration applications and requires a thorough re-evaluation of cases from these nations. This could entail additional interviews and security checks. Sharvari Dalal-Dheini, senior director of government relations for the American Immigration Lawyers Association, reported instances of cancelled oath ceremonies, naturalization interviews, and adjustment-of-status appointments for individuals from these countries. Since returning to office, President Trump has emphasized immigration enforcement, deploying federal forc es to major US cities and restricting asylum access at the US-Mexico border. Although deportations have been a focal point of his administration's messaging, legal immigration had not been a primary focus until this recent policy shift. In a related development, US federal authorities are reportedly preparing a targeted operation by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Minnesota, focusing on Somali immigrants residing unlawfully. An ICE operation is anticipated to commence soon, concentrating on individuals in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area with final deportation orders. President Trump's recent comments on the Somali community have heightened concerns of profiling and exacerbated local tensions.