Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
Washington, Dec 19: More than 100 Democratic members of the US Congress have called on the Trump administration to immediately reverse an open-ended suspension of immigration and citizenship processing for nationals of 19 countries covered under President Donald Trump’s travel ban, warning that the move is causing severe hardship to lawful immigrants and their families.
In a letter dated December 18 and sent to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Joseph Edlow, the lawmakers said a December 2 USCIS directive had abruptly halted green card processing, naturalization interviews and even scheduled oath ceremonies. They alleged that applications were being paused or cancelled solely on the basis of applicants’ country of origin.
The lawmakers rejected the administration’s justification that the policy targets security threats, arguing instead that it penalizes immigrants who have complied with every legal requirement. “This action targets people who have undergone extensive and repeated vetting and followed every rule to secure lawful status,” the letter stated, calling the policy discriminatory and contrary to core American values.
The letter was spearheaded by Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security and Enforcement, along with Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher. It documents reports from across the United States of applicants being informed—often without explanation—that their cases had been frozen because of their nationality.
Lawmakers highlighted particularly troubling cases involving individuals who had already passed citizenship exams and completed background checks. In several instances, applicants were reportedly removed from oath ceremonies moments before they were scheduled to take the Oath of Allegiance.
“Naturalization ceremonies are meant to celebrate years of sacrifice and perseverance,” the members wrote. “To deny people this milestone after decades of waiting, through no fault of their own, is deeply unjust.”
The letter also criticized USCIS for failing to provide transparency about the policy. Lawmakers said the agency has not clarified how long the pause will remain in effect or whether any new screening measures are being applied to cases that had already cleared security checks. Without clear timelines, they warned, families could remain separated indefinitely and applicants left in prolonged uncertainty.
The lawmakers demanded detailed responses by December 31, including data on how many citizenship ceremonies have been cancelled, the number of affected applicants, and whether additional background investigations are being imposed.
Representative Angie Craig accused the administration of obstructing lawful paths to citizenship and unfairly targeting immigrants who have complied with US law. Reps. Fletcher and Jayapal echoed those concerns, saying the policy has triggered confusion nationwide and undermined trust in the immigration system.
The members also sought assurances that affected applicants would not lose eligibility for citizenship or face enforcement action if their immigration status lapses while their cases remain on hold.
President Trump’s travel ban, reintroduced earlier this year, restricts entry and legal immigration from several countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, Somalia and Yemen, with some nations subject to partial limitations. The policy revives one of Trump’s hallmark immigration measures from his first term, which previously sparked widespread protests and legal challenges before being upheld in a revised form by the US Supreme Court.