By Blessing Nweke
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on Tuesday that it will pause all immigration applications including green card and citizenship requests — submitted by nationals of 19 countries already under travel restrictions. This suspension comes via a new internal policy memo requiring extra vetting for applicants from those countries.
USCIS explained that while applicants may face delays, the agency determined the processing pause is “necessary and appropriate” to ensure that every applicant is vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible. The agency’s move affects a wide range of application types including adjustment of status, naturalization, travel documentation, and asylum.
The policy comes in the wake of the fatal shooting of two United States National Guard members in Washington, D.C., allegedly by an Afghan national who had entered the U.S. under a resettlement program. The list of 19 countries includes nations from Africa, the Middle East, and elsewhere many already subject to partial or full entry bans under the Proclamation 10949 issued in June 2025.
Under the new measures, USCIS will not only suspend pending applications, but also re-review approved immigration benefits for immigrants from the 19 countries if they entered the U.S. on or after January 20, 2021. Asylum adjudications are also halted indefinitely for all nationalities — regardless of origin.
Administration officials say the step is essential for national security and public safety. Critics, however, warn that the policy could leave hundreds of thousands of applicants in limbo, undermining due process and harming vulnerable people with legitimate claims.
Original article
Comments