Trump Administration Pauses All Immigration Applications From 19 Countries Over Security Concerns

The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday (December 2, 2025) announced an immediate pause on all immigration applications — including green cards and U.S. citizenship processing — for immigrants from 19 non-European countries, citing national security and public safety concerns.

This pause applies to the same 19 countries already affected by a partial travel ban issued in June.

Why the Pause?

According to the official memorandum, the move follows:

• A fatal attack on U.S. National Guard personnel in Washington last week

• An Afghan national has been arrested as the suspect

• One guard member was killed and another critically injured

The administration said this incident highlighted the need for an “enhanced review” of immigrants from high-risk regions.

Trump’s Escalating Rhetoric

President Trump has recently intensified criticism of immigrants from Somalia, calling them:

• “Garbage”

• Saying “we don’t want them in our country.”

Countries Affected (19 Total)

Severe restrictions already in place (full or near-complete entry suspension):
Afghanistan, Burma (Myanmar), Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen

Countries facing partial restrictions:
Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, Venezuela

What the New Policy Does

• Puts a hold on all pending applications, including:
  ✔ Green Cards
  ✔ Naturalization (citizenship)
  ✔ Adjustment of Status

• Requires re-review of every application from these countries

• May involve new interviews or re-interviews

• Focuses on “assessing national security threats”

Growing Focus on Legal Immigration

Since returning to office in January, Trump has:

• Intensified immigration enforcement

• Increased federal raids in major U.S. cities

• Limited asylum entry at the U.S.–Mexico border

But this is the broadest action yet targeting legal immigration routes.

Impact on Applicants

The American Immigration Lawyers Association reports:

• Cancelled oath ceremonies

• Cancelled naturalization interviews

• Cancelled green-card/adjustment interviews

Applicants from the listed countries are facing immediate delays and uncertainty.