Green card and citizenship applications also not spared: Trump suspends US immigration application for citizens from 19 countries

WASHINGTON: The US has suspended all immigration applications filed by citizens of 19 non-European countries. This includes green card and citizenship applications. The action is being taken citing national and public security threats.

The ban applies to citizens of Afghanistan, Myanmar, Burundi, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Cuba, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Laos, Libya, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Togo, Turkmenistan, Venezuela and Yemen.

The US had imposed a full or partial travel ban on them in June. US President Donald Trump is tightening immigration restrictions after a National Guard member was shot dead near the White House by an Afghan national. Trump had described Somali immigrants as "trash" and called on them to return and fix their country.