The Trump administration announced Tuesday that it is pausing certain immigration processing for nationals from 19 countries that were already subject to full or partial U.S. travel restrictions, according to new guidance circulated across the immigration system.
The impacted nations are: Afghanistan, Burma (Myanmar), Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.
What the new pause does—and who it targets
Under the policy, the pause takes effect immediately and applies to nationals from the listed countries who entered the United States on or after Jan. 20, 2021—the date former President Joe Biden was inaugurated—according to the guidance described in the announcement.
Officials say affected individuals may be placed into a re-review process that could include additional screening steps, such as an interview, with the stated goal of assessing “all possible national security and public safety risks.” While the administration is framing the policy as a security measure, immigration attorneys note that re-review requirements can also create significant delays, even for applicants who had already been moving through the system normally.
The guidance also affects green card and citizenship applications for people from the 19 countries. In addition to re-review of certain cases, the policy pauses some downstream steps—most notably, the final stage of naturalization.
Naturalization ceremonies reportedly canceled
One of the most immediate impacts described by applicants is the cancellation of U.S. citizenship oath ceremonies, which are the final step in the naturalization process. The policy states that individuals from one of the 19 countries who have already passed the citizenship test will not be scheduled for oath ceremonies while the guidance remains in effect.
On social media, several users on Reddit’s r/USCIS forum reported abrupt cancellations. One user, who said he was in Portland, Oregon, claimed his wife’s naturalization ceremony scheduled for Dec. 3 was canceled, and others described receiving limited explanation beyond a general notice of postponement. Posters frequently cited confusion about what changed and whether they would need to submit additional documents.
Naturalization ceremonies are administered by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and, in some cases, by federal courts. Even short-term pauses can ripple quickly because ceremonies are typically scheduled in batches and often include applicants who have already completed years of eligibility requirements, background checks, and interviews.
Administration ties action to security concerns
A USCIS memo outlining the new restrictions referenced the shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, D.C., according to the article’s description of the guidance. The suspect, identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national, has been charged with two counts of assault with intent to kill, one count of murder, and one count of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence.
During Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem argued the policy is a corrective response to the previous administration’s immigration approach.
“If you think about what Joe Biden did with the Department of Homeland Security, he used this department to invade the country with terrorists… He opened up the borders… let anybody come in that wanted to… it’s our job to get them out,” Noem said.
