WASHINGTON, Dec. 3, 2025 — The Trump administration has suspended the processing of immigration applications — including green cards and naturalizations — for individuals from 19 countries previously targeted by travel restrictions, according to a newly published U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) policy directive.
The pause, announced in a memo posted Tuesday, represents one of the most significant escalations in the administration’s recent tightening of immigration rules following the fatal shooting of a National Guard service member near the White House during Thanksgiving week. The suspect, an Afghan national, has been cited repeatedly by officials as a catalyst for the renewed security measures.
Wide-Ranging Freeze on Immigration Benefits
The new directive halts decisions on immigration benefits for applicants from countries the administration classifies as “high-risk.” These include nations subject to the June travel ban: Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.
Seven other nations — Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela — were previously placed under restricted access and are also covered by the processing freeze.
While earlier restrictions focused on preventing new arrivals, the updated policy now affects immigrants already living in the United States, regardless of when they arrived. USCIS Director Joseph Edlow will determine when the suspension is lifted.
Expanded Security Reviews
According to the memo, USCIS will initiate a full reassessment of all immigration benefits approved for individuals who entered the country during the Biden administration. This includes the possibility of additional interviews and potential referrals to immigration enforcement or other federal agencies.
The agency has 90 days to compile a prioritized list of cases for re-review.
“In light of identified concerns and the threat to the American people, a comprehensive re-review … of all aliens from high-risk countries of concern who entered the United States on or after January 20, 2021, is necessary,” the memo states.
Part of Broader Post-Shooting Crackdown
The freeze follows several policy moves made in rapid succession since the shooting. In recent days:
- USCIS paused all asylum adjudications.
- The State Department halted visa processing for Afghans who supported U.S. military operations.
- The administration announced it would review the cases of all refugees admitted under the Biden administration.
The agency also signaled last week that green card applications for applicants from “countries of concern” would undergo new scrutiny — but the latest directive outlines a far broader and more formal scope.
Critics Warn of Overreach
Immigrant advocacy groups and several legal experts have criticized the measures as sweeping and punitive, arguing they impose collective consequences on immigrants based solely on nationality, not individualized risk.
Civil rights organizations are expected to challenge some of the new policies in court.
