The United States has abruptly paused all immigration applications from 19 countries, including neighbouring Somalia, sending a chill through East Africa and leaving the futures of thousands of refugees in Kenya hanging in the balance.

The policy, announced Tuesday by the Trump administration, freezes the processing of green cards and citizenship, citing national security concerns. For countless Somalis in camps like Dadaab and urban centres across Kenya, many of whom have waited years for a chance at resettlement, the move slams a door that was already only slightly ajar.

A Justification Born in Washington, A Reality Felt in Dadaab

The White House memorandum links the sweeping decision to a recent attack in Washington D.C., where an Afghan national is the suspect in a fatal shooting of a National Guard member. That incident prompted calls from President Donald Trump for an immediate and intensified immigration crackdown.

This justification, however, offers little comfort to those in Kenya whose lives are now in limbo. The decision follows a pattern of similar restrictions under the Trump administration that have previously disrupted resettlement programs for refugees who have passed years of rigorous screening.

The move was compounded by inflammatory rhetoric from President Trump, who in recent days referred to Somali immigrants as "garbage" and stated, "we don't want them in our country." Such comments have deepened the sense of anxiety within the Somali diaspora, a community vital to the economy of the Horn of Africa through remittances.

The Affected Nations and The Unclear Future

The policy impacts applicants from a wide array of nations, many experiencing conflict or political instability. According to the Department of Homeland Security, the pause is necessary to conduct a "thorough re-review process" of all applicants from these countries. The full list of affected countries includes:

• Afghanistan
• Somalia
• Burma (Myanmar)
• Chad
• Republic of the Congo
• Eritrea
• Haiti
• Iran
• Libya
• Sudan
• Yemen
• Venezuela

While the administration casts the policy as a security measure, immigration analysts and advocates warn it creates immense uncertainty. It not only halts pending applications but also calls for a re-examination of asylum cases approved under the previous Biden administration, potentially affecting tens of thousands more.

For the Somali families in Kenya, the directive is more than a geopolitical maneuver; it is a personal crisis. It represents the potential collapse of long-held dreams for safety, stability, and a future for their children, leaving them to question if the door to a new life will ever open again.