The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has halted all pending legal immigration applications, including green card and citizenship requests, from 19 non-European countries, citing national security threats and public safety concerns.
This expansive measure tightens existing travel restrictions and underscores a key immigration policy of President Trump’s administration.
An official policy record justified the action by referencing a recent assault on U.S. Homeland Security forces in Washington D.C.
An Afghan man was arrested in connection with the incident, which resulted in one Homeland Security member killed and another seriously injured.
The newly suspended applications apply to citizens from 19 nations that previously faced partial travel limitations imposed in June.
These countries include Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.
The policy also targets Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.
All immigrants from these listed countries must now undergo “thorough re-examination.” This includes potential and repeated interviews to fully assess any national security and public safety risks.
The American Immigration Lawyers Association reported immediate consequences. They noted cancellations of naturalization ceremonies, citizenship interviews, and status adjustments for individuals from the affected nations.
Since returning to office in January, President Trump has intensified his focus on strict immigration enforcement.
His administration has deployed federal officials to major U.S. cities and rejected asylum seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border.
While his government previously emphasized deportations, this swift imposition of new restrictions after the D.C. attack signals a growing focus on legal immigration pathways.
President Trump has also employed harsh rhetoric against specific immigrant groups. He recently called Somalis “trash,” adding, “We do not want them in our country.”
The administration attributes these actions to safeguarding national security, while simultaneously criticizing the immigration policies of former President Joe Biden.