NEW YORK, United States (CMC) – The New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), an umbrella policy and advocacy organisation that represents over 200 immigrant and refugee rights groups throughout New York, has condemned the United States’ latest travel ban that imposes an indefinite “hold” on legal immigration processing for people from 20 additional countries that were added to its travel ban proclamation last week.

Last Tuesday, US President Donald Trump named Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica and Haiti among countries where nationals would either be “fully” restricted or have “limited” entry into the US, effective January 1, 2026.

NYIC President and CEO Murad Awawdeh told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) on Saturday that “this hold may impact petitions for citizenship and naturalisation, work permits, spousal petitions, status adjustments, parole, and more immigration benefits issued by USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services), an agency of the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that administers the country’s naturalization and immigration system.”

Awawdeh said the “hold” also halts the completion of citizenship ceremonies for legal US permanent residents from those 39 countries, delaying their path to becoming naturalised American citizens.

Last week, Trump brought legal immigration for current petitioners from 39 countries and Palestine to a halt, and has barred future immigrant and non-immigrant visa petitions indefinitely.

“This indefinite ban cruelly shuts out people who have followed every rule and diligently followed the processes for getting green cards, receiving work permits, and becoming new citizens,” Awawdeh said. “It is driven by discrimination against applicants from African- and Muslim-majority countries and a callous indifference to those fleeing war-torn regions.

“The updated policy, along with the others already announced, ensures the Trump administration will have a growing population of those at risk of being funnelled into the administration’s deportation machine, enriching private companies that profit from the prison-industrial complex,” he added.

“American taxpayers are left footing the bill for the rising costs of detention, while their social services and access to affordable healthcare are being cut,” continued Awawdeh, urging the US Congress to also “condemn these actions and demand that the Trump administration reverse course.”

On Friday, the Bureau of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) noted with concern the proclamation issued by the Government of the United States on 16 December 2025, imposing partial entry restrictions on nationals of Antigua and Barbuda and the Commonwealth of Dominica.

“The Bureau recognises the right of countries to implement policies regulating entry to their borders,” the statement said. “Nevertheless, the Bureau expresses concern that this decision was taken without prior consultation, especially in circumstances of its potential adverse effects on legitimate travel, people-to-people exchanges, and the social and economic well-being of these small states.”

Caricom said it was also concerned about “the lack of clarity regarding the status of existing visas after 1 January 2026.

“The Bureau urges an early engagement by the United States with the Governments of Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica to clarify the proclamation and address outstanding concerns, consistent with the strong and longstanding partnership between the United States of America and Caricom,” the statement said.

“Caricom remains committed to dialogue and cooperation based on mutual respect, shared interests and the rule of law, as we seek to secure the prosperity of the region and its citizens,” it added.