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The administration of Donald Trump issued one of its broadest immigration measures to date, ordering the temporary suspension of all immigration applications, including those for asylum and residency, for nationals of Cuba, Haiti, Venezuela, and 16 other countries deemed “high risk.”
The directive, signed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), covers everything from green cards to work permits for those who had already begun legal proceedings in the United States.
According to El Nuevo Herald, in South Florida, where millions of immigrants from the Caribbean and Latin America reside, the measure has generated fear and uncertainty.
“This effectively halts legal migration,” warned Randolph McGrorty, executive director of Catholic Legal Services.
The lawyer explained that asylum seekers with pending work permits will remain "in indefinite wait," which will impact families that rely on that income.
The new policy expands the restrictions that the administration announced last week, following the arrest of an Afghan citizen accused of killing a member of the National Guard.
Trump justified the measure as part of a national security review to "prevent internal threats."
Among the affected countries, in addition to Cuba, Haiti, and Venezuela, are Afghanistan, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen, among others.
The DHS argued that the review aims to ensure that immigrants “do not pose risks to the national interests of the United States.”
Nevertheless, lawyers and human rights advocates described the order as a covert suspension of legal immigration, which particularly impacts Hispanic and Haitian communities.
“If the goal is to strengthen national security, this only adds more strain to an already collapsed system and delays processes that should be expedited,” said Maureen Porras, immigration attorney and commissioner of Doral.
For his part, Ira Kurzban, a lawyer from Miami, highlighted a political and racial backdrop: “Trump and his team are using the pretext of security to close off asylum and expel Black and Brown immigrants,” he stated.
Organizations like the Venezuelan American Caucus described the directive as "a cruel and dangerous measure," putting at risk refugees who could be sent back to authoritarian regimes.
The human impact is already being felt in communities in South Florida.
“I do not feel safe in the United States,” said Alberto Argüelles, a Venezuelan resident in Doral who fears for his relatives who are still seeking asylum.
The DHS reported that the reviews will begin within 90 days, leaving thousands of immigrants in a migration and economic limbo.
Meanwhile, lawyers agree that challenging the measure will be difficult, as the government justifies it under the argument of national security.
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