Congressional Black Caucus decries Trump’s pause on processing of immigrant visa applications
Published:Saturday | January 17, 2026 | 12:09 AMLester Hinds/Gleaner Writer
The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) has strongly condemned the Donald Trump administration’s decision to suspend the processing of green card applications from 75 countries and has called for the immediate reversal of the decision.
In a statement issued yesterday, the caucus, which is headed by United States (US) Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, whose parents are Jamaicans, said the decision to suspend the processing as of January 21 could have devastating effects on the US economy and the country’s reputation around the world.
Noting that the majority of countries affected by the decision are majority-black countries, the CBC said time and again some of these countries – such as Haiti and Somalia – have been subjected to racist policies and attacks from the administration of the US president.
The CBC said the basis for the suspension of the processing is patently false.
“The Trump administration’s rationale for suspending visa processing rests in part on the patently false claim that immigrants who make America their home are a strain on social safety net programmes. There is simply no evidence to support this claim. Immigrant communities contribute immensely to the vibrancy and economic growth of our country, despite President Trump’s pattern of demonising them and stoking hatred against them,” the statement read.
According to the CBC, the fact that Trump and Congressional republicans have worked to implement historic cuts to programme like SNAP and Medicaid makes clear that their concern is not about resources but about fomenting hate.
“We are calling on the administration to immediately reverse this decision which could have immense and devastating effects on our economy and reputation around the globe,” the CBC said.
RE-EVALUATING SCREENING PROCESS
The US Department of State announced on Wednesday that it is putting a pause on the processing of immigrant visa applications from the 75 countries, including Jamaica and 10 other Caribbean nations, while it re-evaluates the screening process for such applications.
The decision by the United States government to pause the processing of “green card” applications has raised concerns among Jamaicans in the diaspora with Jamaican immigration attorneys raising the spectre that the move could drag out efforts at reunifying families from those countries.
Wayne Golding, a Jamaican immigration attorney in Orlando, Florida, told The Gleaner that there are going to be delays in the processing of applications so he would advise persons filed for to not dispose of their properties and holdings at this time.
“I suspect that they are going to revamp how they look at migrants and if they will become a charge on the public purse. If you don’t meet the financial threshold, this could derail the application,” he said.
Jamaica Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness, reacting to the decision, has stated that Jamaica needs to build up its economy in order to all of the country’s citizens feel comfortable that they can achieve their dreams without leaving their homeland.