The Trump administration has announced a halt on all immigration applications—including green card and naturalization requests—from citizens of 19 countries previously targeted under its expanded travel ban. The move is part of a sweeping overhaul of immigration policy following the shooting of two National Guard troops near the White House during Thanksgiving week.
The new policy, detailed in a memo published Tuesday by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), places a temporary pause on immigration-related approvals for individuals from countries the administration labels as “high-risk.” USCIS Director Joseph Edlow will determine when the pause is lifted.
In June, the administration blocked entry for citizens of 12 countries and imposed additional restrictions on seven others, citing national security concerns. The ban included Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. Additional restrictions were placed on migrants from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela.
While earlier rules did not affect immigrants from these countries who were already residing in the United States, the new directive changes that. USCIS will now conduct a full re-review of approved immigration benefits for individuals from these nations who entered the country on or after January 20, 2021.
The shift follows the fatal shooting of a National Guard soldier by a suspect identified as an Afghan national. According to USCIS, the incident exposed “identified concerns and threats to the American people,” prompting the agency to increase scrutiny through interviews, re-interviews, and possible referrals to immigration enforcement.
The memo states that within 90 days, USCIS will generate a prioritized list of cases for reassessment and potential action by law enforcement agencies.
This pause aligns with a series of rapid policy changes implemented since the shooting. USCIS has also halted all asylum decisions, while the State Department suspended visa processing for Afghans who previously supported U.S. military operations. Additionally, the administration is reviewing all refugee admissions during the Biden administration.
Critics argue that these measures amount to collective punishment of immigrants based solely on nationality, raising concerns about fairness and human rights.
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