The Trump administration has paused processing of immigration applications from 19 non-European countries, citing national security and public safety concerns. The freeze includes applications for green cards and U.S. citizenship, affecting immigrants already in the system.
The policy, outlined in a memorandum released Tuesday, applies to individuals from countries previously placed under a partial travel ban in June. It halts pending applications and requires a full re-review of each case.
That process could involve additional interviews and new background checks. Officials said the move comes in response to recent violent incidents involving foreign nationals, including a fatal shooting in Washington last week.
Afghanistan, Somalia are among the nations affected
The list includes Afghanistan and Somalia, both of which had already faced significant restrictions. According to the memo, an Afghan national has been arrested in connection with the shooting of two U.S. National Guard members in the capital. One guard member died, and the other remains in critical condition.
The Trump administration has paused all immigration applications and naturalization ceremonies for nationals of 19 countries under its travel ban.
Affected countries: Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen,… pic.twitter.com/ObWXqs57Th
— Grant Stinchfield (@stinchfield1776) December 3, 2025
The administration has sharpened its public stance, with President Donald Trump recently making strongly critical comments about Somali immigrants. He reportedly described them in degrading terms and said they were not welcome in the country.
The new measure marks a shift toward tighter control over legal immigration. Since returning to the office in January, Trump has prioritized enforcement, sending federal agents to major cities and turning away asylum seekers at the southern border. Until now, efforts had focused more on deportation than on limiting lawful immigration processes.
Policy deepens as US pauses immigration applications
The updated list includes 12 countries facing full entry suspensions: Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.
These nations had already been subject to the strictest limits in June. The remaining seven countries—Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela—were under partial restrictions and continue to face additional review.
Under the new guidelines, all applicants from these nations must undergo further screening. Officials said this step is needed to reassess potential security risks.
Sharvari Dalal-Dheini, who serves as senior director of government relations at the American Immigration Lawyers Association, said her organization has received multiple reports of disruptions. These include sudden cancellations of naturalization interviews, oath ceremonies, and adjustment of status appointments for individuals from the listed countries.
The decision to pause immigration applications from these countries adds another layer to an already restrictive immigration agenda. As the administration frames the action as necessary for public safety, legal experts warn of its broad impact on individuals who have followed the legal process.
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