Overview
- At Boston’s Faneuil Hall, advocates say officers asked applicants their country of origin and turned away those from restricted nations despite prior approval.
- USCIS has directed a pause on adjudication for people from 19 countries on full or partial travel bans, leading to canceled ceremonies and interviews in multiple states, including New York and Massachusetts.
- The agency announced a USCIS Vetting Center in Atlanta to enhance screening following recent violent incidents, with Director Joseph B. Edlow emphasizing public safety.
- USCIS and DHS have not released data on the scope or duration of the cancellations, leaving many longtime green‑card holders without guidance.
- The crackdown comes alongside broader 2025 changes that tightened legal immigration, including a harder civics test, expanded social‑media checks, and added “positive attributes” reviews.