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USCIS Freezes Asylum Decisions as ICE Steps Up Raids in Minneapolis and New Orleans

Officials link the nationwide pause to the DC National Guard shooting, drawing sharp backlash from civil-rights groups.

Overview

  • A USCIS memo ordered an immediate adjudicative hold on all asylum applications and paused green card, naturalization and other benefit processing for nationals of 19 previously restricted countries.
  • The directive requires a comprehensive re-review, including potential interviews or re-interviews, for people from those countries who entered the United States on or after January 20, 2021.
  • DHS confirmed arrests in Minneapolis that began Monday, saying those detained include people with criminal histories, and officials reported dozens of arrests in a parallel operation in New Orleans.
  • Minneapolis leaders moved to limit federal use of city property for staging operations as residents reported shuttered shops, heavier ID checks and encounters in Somali neighborhoods.
  • President Trump used derogatory language about Somali immigrants as DHS leaders urged tougher travel restrictions, while advocates and lawmakers condemned the policies as discriminatory.