The administration of former US President Donald Trump has implemented a significant pause on all immigration applications for individuals originating from 19 countries already subject to existing travel restrictions. This major policy shift was announced in a directive from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on Tuesday, December 2, 2025.
Scope of the Immigration Pause and Affected Nations
The new policy effectively freezes a wide array of immigration processes. This includes applications for naturalisation, green cards, and asylum for citizens from the listed nations. The authority to decide when this suspension will be lifted rests solely with the USCIS Director, Joseph Edlow.
The affected countries are divided into two groups. The first consists of 12 nations that were placed under a travel ban in June 2025: Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.
The second group comprises seven other countries that had restricted access imposed: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela. Crucially, this new directive extends beyond new applicants. It mandates extra scrutiny for immigrants from these countries who are already in the United States, regardless of their arrival date.
Security Incident Cited as Justification
USCIS directly linked this stringent measure to a recent security incident. The agency referenced the shooting of two National Guard troops near the White House during the Thanksgiving week. The suspect was identified as an Afghan national. The attack resulted in the death of one soldier and left another wounded.
In an official statement, USCIS declared, “In light of identified concerns and the threat to the American people, USCIS has determined that a comprehensive re-review, potential interview, and re-interview of all aliens from high-risk countries of concern who entered the United States on or after January 20, 2021 is necessary.”
The policy memo further instructs the agency to create a prioritised list of immigrants for review within 90 days. Cases may be referred to immigration enforcement or other law enforcement agencies based on this re-examination.
Broader Policy Changes and Mounting Criticism
This announcement is part of a series of immigration policy tightenings following the shooting. Last week, USCIS paused all asylum decisions, and the State Department halted visas for Afghans who assisted the US war effort. Even prior to the incident, a separate memo indicated a review of all refugee cases from the Biden administration era.
USCIS Director Joseph Edlow reinforced the stance on social media, stating his agency would reexamine green cards for people from countries “of concern.” The Tuesday directive provided the detailed framework for this action.
However, the administration's moves have faced sharp criticism from advocacy groups and critics. They argue the policies amount to collective punishment, unfairly targeting individuals based on their nationality rather than assessing personal circumstances or threat levels. The administration maintains that these steps are essential for protecting national security and preventing future threats to American citizens.
