US Freezes Immigration Applications for 19 Countries Amid Security Concerns

Immigration Applications Halted

The United States has temporarily suspended all immigration applications, including green card processing and naturalization ceremonies, for individuals from 19 nations already facing travel restrictions, as reported on Tuesday.

An internal memo from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has directed officials to cease final decisions on all cases and to stop citizenship oath ceremonies for legal permanent residents from these countries.

This directive follows a tragic incident in Washington DC, where a National Guard soldier was killed and another was critically injured, leading to the arrest of an Afghan citizen residing in the US.

On Friday, the US also halted all asylum application decisions, shortly after President Trump announced plans to permanently pause migration from all third-world nations.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that the US has temporarily ceased issuing visas to individuals traveling on Afghan passports.

This pause affects applicants from nations impacted by Trump's earlier travel restrictions.

In June, the Trump administration had already barred citizens from 12 countries from entering the US, while imposing additional restrictions on travelers from seven other nations.

The countries affected by the ban include Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. Enhanced restrictions were also placed on travelers from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.

USCIS stated that all applicants from the 19 countries will undergo a comprehensive re-evaluation process, which may involve new interviews to address security concerns.

A department spokesperson confirmed the decision to a major news outlet, emphasizing that the administration is committed to ensuring that new citizens represent the highest standards.

“Citizenship is a privilege, not a right,” the spokesperson remarked.

This decision is part of a broader immigration crackdown initiated by Trump, who has implemented a series of stringent measures since the start of his second term in January 2025.

In August, the administration announced a review of over 55 million individuals holding valid visas for any potential violations that could result in deportation.

Additional directives include the deportation of undocumented migrants using military aircraft and imposing stricter security measures on foreign students applying to US educational institutions.