WASHINGTON – The Trump administration on Tuesday announced a sweeping pause on all immigration applications, including green card and citizenship processing, for immigrants from 19 non-European countries.
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Officials said the decision was driven by national security and public safety concerns following a recent attack on US National Guard members. The move extends restrictions previously placed under a partial travel ban in June.
The list includes Afghanistan, Somalia, Iran, Libya, Yemen, Sudan and several other nations already facing strict entry limitations. According to an official memorandum, the pause will affect all pending applications and trigger an extensive re-review of cases originating from these countries. The policy adds further constraints to one of President Trump’s core political themes: tightening US immigration controls.
BREAKING: Trump admin HALTS citizenship ceremonies & green card apps for thousands of nationals from 19 travel-banned countries (Iran, Venezuela, Haiti & more).
No more rushed oaths—vetting first.
America First in action. pic.twitter.com/t8tYevQIvO
— Election Wizard (@ElectionWiz) December 3, 2025
The administration cited last week’s shooting in Washington, in which an Afghan suspect was arrested, as a key reason for intensifying restrictions. One National Guard member was killed and another critically injured in the incident. In recent days, Trump has escalated criticism of Somali immigrants, using inflammatory language that has sparked widespread backlash.
Since returning to office in January, Trump has prioritized aggressive immigration enforcement, deploying federal agents to major cities and strengthening measures at the US-Mexico border. While deportations and border controls have been highly publicized, Tuesday’s announcement signals a new phase focused on reshaping the legal immigration system itself. Officials claim the changes are designed to prevent security risks and correct what they describe as failures of the previous administration.
Trump Pauses Immigration and Citizenship Applications from 19 Non-European Countries. pic.twitter.com/sMiRuQJtOQ
— Indian Infra Report (@Indianinfoguide) December 3, 2025
Countries such as Burma, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea and Haiti are among those facing the most severe restrictions. Others, including Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela, had earlier been subjected to partial travel limits. The memo notes that immigrants from these nations may now face additional interviews or security screenings before applications are reconsidered.
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Sharvari Dalal-Dheini of the American Immigration Lawyers Association said the group has received reports of cancelled oath ceremonies and naturalisation interviews. She warned that the sweeping pause could leave thousands of families in prolonged uncertainty.