The Embassy of Kazakhstan in the USA has issued a statement regarding the tightening of US immigration policies aimed at enhancing border security and reducing illegal migration, as reported by Tengrinews.kz.
In light of this, the diplomatic mission has urged Kazakhstani citizens currently in the United States to comply with the current requirements set by American authorities.
"Dear citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan who are in the USA! The measures taken by the American authorities concern foreigners who have entered the country illegally (those who arrived without a valid visa or green card) and illegal migrants present in the United States. Alongside enforcement measures such as detention and deportation with restrictions on re-entry into the USA, social benefits, work permits, and other privileges will be revoked," the statement reads.
As noted by the embassy's press service, the measures implemented by the American authorities primarily affect foreign citizens who are illegally present in the country, including those who entered without a valid visa or green card.
"We would like to emphasize that US authorities are offering foreign citizens without legal grounds for staying in the country (lack of a valid visa, residence permit (green card), and other documents) the opportunity to voluntarily leave the territory of the USA. This measure will allow citizens to avoid the forced deportation process and the ban on re-entry when applying for a US visa again," the embassy clarified.
Among other new measures:
- The "Remain in Mexico" policy has been reinstated - migrants crossing the US-Mexico border and applying for asylum in the USA are required to stay in Mexico while their case is being reviewed by US immigration courts;
- The "catch and release" scheme has been terminated, meaning the end of the practice where detained migrants who illegally crossed the US border were released within the country until their court hearing. This category of migrants will either be held in specialized centers, returned to their countries of origin, or sent to third countries (for example, under the "Remain in Mexico" program);
- The use of the CBP One app as a method for conditional release (parole) or easing the entry of foreigners who would otherwise be prohibited from entering the United States has been discontinued.
Previously, there were issues with visa application processing at the US embassy in Astana.
Recall that earlier Trump revoked the right to asylum at the border. One of the executive orders on the first day of Trump's presidency makes radical changes to border policy.
To learn about the executive orders Trump signed on his first day in the White House, read the article.