WASHINGTON, D.C. — December 3, 2025 — The Trump administration announced an immediate and sweeping pause on the processing of all immigration applications, including those for Green Cards (Lawful Permanent Residency) and U.S. Citizenship (Naturalization), filed by nationals from 19 non-European countries.

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Citing escalated concerns over national security and public safety, the directive was formalized in an official memorandum on Tuesday. The pause places a hard stop on critical immigration steps, leading to the abrupt cancellation of scheduled interviews, oath ceremonies, and decisions on various immigration benefits for applicants from the designated nations.

Policy Driven by National Security Review

The administration’s move follows a recent fatal attack on U.S. National Guard members in Washington, D.C., where the suspect was identified as an Afghan national who had previously been granted asylum. Officials have explicitly referenced this incident as a catalyst for intensifying the scrutiny on legal immigration pathways.

A spokesperson for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) emphasized the new directive, stating, “The Trump administration is making every effort to ensure individuals becoming citizens are the best of the best. Citizenship is a privilege, not a right.”

This pause is described by the Department of Homeland Security as the first stage of a broader security review. The new policy mandates that all pending applications from the affected countries undergo a “thorough re-review process,” including potential re-interviews, to fully assess all national security and public safety threats.

The 19 Countries Affected by the Freeze

The 19 nations subject to this comprehensive freeze are the same countries that were placed under a partial travel ban in June, which restricted entry and certain visa types. The list includes a combination of countries grappling with conflict, political instability, or those flagged by the U.S. for alleged security concerns and lack of cooperation on documentation.

Category	Countries (Alphabetical Order)
Full Ban Countries (Previously subject to most severe restrictions)	Afghanistan, Burma (Myanmar), Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Republic of the Congo, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen
Partial Ban Countries (Previously subject to certain visa restrictions)	Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, Venezuela

Implications and Legal Reaction

The sudden suspension has immediate and profound consequences for thousands of immigrants already residing in the U.S. who were awaiting final approval of their applications, some for years. Legal experts and immigration lawyers across the country have expressed widespread confusion and alarm regarding the operational guidance and the constitutional implications of the sweeping new policy.

The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) has reported receiving multiple accounts of cancelled green card and naturalization appointments, noting that the system is now facing a severe backlog and uncertainty. The new policy also places a heightened level of scrutiny on individuals who received asylum during the previous administration.

The Trump administration’s aggressive enforcement and policy shifts signal a decisive pivot in focusing on restrictions within the legal immigration system, moving beyond the border enforcement emphasis seen earlier in the year.