Overview
- Internal DHS papers describe a plan to label “country-specific factors” as significant negative considerations in green card and other immigration benefit reviews.
- The approach would apply to people from the nations covered by the June travel ban, including Afghanistan, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, and others named on the list.
- The policy under development could affect immigrants who entered the United States legally before the ban took effect.
- Administration officials cite weak screening and vetting in the listed countries, while immigration advocates and former officials warn the shift amounts to national-origin discrimination.
- The move tracks other recent restrictions, including a refugee cap reduced to 7,500 for next year and expanded social-media screening of applicants.