US President Donald Trump has ignited global debate after signalling that the United States may end all migration from what he termed “Third World countries”, a statement that has since been followed by a significant administrative move: the pausing of all immigration benefit applications from 19 “high-risk” nations. The shift, outlined in a memo from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), marks one of the most far-reaching immigration interventions in recent years and has prompted concern among international observers, migration scholars, and members of the Indian diaspora.

Trump’s announcement and its broader implications

President Trump had hinted last week that the US immigration system required a complete reset, writing that migration from certain regions had eroded economic gains and threatened national security. In his remarks, he stated that he intends to “permanently pause migration from all Third World countries”, arguing that the American system must “recover” before re-opening pathways.

While India is not included in the 19 countries affected by the current administrative pause, the rhetoric and policy direction have triggered anxiety among skilled workers, students, and families — particularly in Karnataka, where US educational and work opportunities remain a major aspiration.

USCIS memo halts applications from 19 nations

The USCIS memo — issued just days after an Afghan national shot two National Guard members in Washington — orders an immediate hold on all pending immigration benefit requests from citizens of 19 designated “high-risk” countries. The Afghan shooter, Rahmanullah Lakhanwal, had entered the US through the Operation Allies Welcome programme and received asylum earlier this year under the Trump administration.

The memo cites the incident as evidence of systemic gaps in vetting:

“…the United States has seen what a lack of screening, vetting, and prioritising expedient adjudications can do…”

Countries affected include Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela.

The pause affects critical forms such as:

  • I-485 (adjustment of status)
  • I-90 (Green Card replacement)
  • I-131 (travel documents and parole)
  • I-751 (residence conditions removal)
  • N-470 (residence preservation for naturalisation)

USCIS will now conduct a comprehensive re-review — and, where necessary, re-interview — of all migrants from these countries who entered the US on or after 20 January 2021, the day President Joe Biden took office.

Concerns over expansion of Trump’s earlier travel bans

This development extends earlier travel restrictions placed by the Trump administration in June, which barred visa issuance for citizens of 12 countries and imposed restricted access for migrants from seven others. At the time, those already within the United States were unaffected. The new memo reverses that approach by subjecting even existing residents to renewed scrutiny.

Legal scholars warn that the lack of clarity around these new criteria may set a precedent for more sweeping restrictions in the future — possibly affecting other regions, including South Asia, depending on political developments.

Critics highlight legal, ethical and economic challenges

Experts have raised concerns that the USCIS directive amounts to collective punishment. Professor Sameer Ashar of the University of California, Irvine, noted that US immigration processes already involve extensive security checks.

He emphasised:

“Cross-checking records and vetting for criminal behaviour are already deeply embedded in the US system. The path to legal immigration is extremely narrow.”

Others, such as immigration scholar Raqel Aldana, argue that the latest actions introduce unclear and potentially arbitrary grounds for denying admissibility, moving beyond established legal frameworks.

Economists warn that large-scale restrictions on legal immigration could reduce the future US workforce by millions. According to an analysis by the National Foundation for American Policy, Trump’s restrictive policies could lower projected worker numbers by 6.8 million by 2028 and 15.7 million by 2035, reducing economic growth and harming long-term competitiveness.

Impact on Indian and Kannadiga communities

Although India is not part of the 19 restricted nations, the broader shift in US immigration posture has generated unease among families, students, and professionals across Karnataka. Cities such as Mangaluru, Udupi, and Bengaluru have strong ties to the United States through higher education, IT employment, medical careers, and research collaborations.

Parents preparing to send children abroad have expressed uncertainty about future visa norms. Skilled workers — particularly those in technology sectors where H-1B visas remain vital — fear heightened scrutiny, longer processing times, and unpredictable policy changes.

Migration counsellors in coastal Karnataka report increased queries about alternative destinations such as Canada, Germany, and Australia, which are perceived to have more stable immigration frameworks.