CNN 5 Things One Thing: Understanding Trump's Seismic Assault on Legal Immigration
Dec 7, 2025
Fear grips immigrants as Trump's policies restrict legal immigration, following a controversial National Guard shooting. The Somali community in Minneapolis feels the impact of inflammatory remarks and heightened Department of Homeland Security actions. Legal pathways become increasingly clogged with application pauses and halted ceremonies, creating anxiety among green card holders. Experts discuss how anti-immigrant rhetoric shapes public opinion and scrutinize long-term consequences for the immigration system.
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Community Fear After Presidential Remarks
- The Somali Mall in Minneapolis emptied after President Trump called Somali immigrants "garbage."
- Community members, including long-time naturalized citizens, began carrying passports and staying inside out of fear.
Citizenship Oath Canceled At The Last Step
- A green card holder who passed his citizenship interview had his oath ceremony canceled because of the travel ban's country list.
- He completed vetting and paperwork but was left waiting indefinitely for the final ceremony.
Large-Scale Pauses Multiply Backlogs
- The administration has paused asylum decisions and halted applications for nationals from the travel-ban countries.
- That pause can freeze over a million backlogged asylum cases and add indefinite delays despite existing vetting.