CNN 5 Things One Thing: Understanding Trump's Seismic Assault on Legal Immigration
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Dec 7, 2025 Priscilla Alvarez, a CNN immigration correspondent, dives deep into the tightening of legal immigration under Trump. The podcast reveals heightened fear in communities, particularly among Somalis, following the President's xenophobic remarks. Alvarez discusses the impact of paused applications and delayed asylum decisions, which threaten livelihoods. She further compares current policies to past travel bans and highlights how anti-immigrant rhetoric shapes public opinion and local economies. Finally, the implications for immigration courts are explored, indicating significant long-term consequences.
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Fear At The Somali Mall
- Minneapolis's Somali Mall went from bustling to fearful after Trump's comments and increased enforcement.
- Residents carried passports and avoided going outside out of worry, even long‑time citizens said Rob Kuznia's reporting.
Oath Ceremony Canceled After Vetting
- An immigrant passed their citizenship interview but had their oath ceremony canceled because of a travel‑ban country list.
- Elisa Taub described clients who completed vetting yet still face indefinite delays to become citizens.
Behind‑The‑Scenes Crackdown
- The administration paused asylum decisions and halted applications for nationals from the travel‑ban list.
- Priscilla Alvarez warns these moves, taken together, reshape legal immigration beyond publicized arrests.