WASHINGTON — When the United States enters a major military confrontation, the shockwaves are not confined to oil markets or defense corridors. They move quickly through the immigration system.
As the war involving Iran escalates, immigration attorneys, multinational employers, universities, technology firms, and foreign nationals are quietly recalculating risk. History makes one point clear: geopolitical conflict almost always reshapes immigration enforcement, visa adjudications, national security screening, and border policy.
The question is not whether immigration will be affected.
The question is how fast.
National Security Vetting Will Intensify Immediately
Every major military conflict involving the United States has produced heightened immigration screening. After September 11, visa adjudication standards changed dramatically. Following prior escalations with Iran, consular review processes expanded. In periods of elevated threat assessments, interagency coordination between the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of State, and intelligence agencies tightens.
