The Trump administration has announced a sweeping new move, suspending all immigration applications from 19 non-European countries, citing national security and public safety concerns.
According to an official memorandum released Tuesday, the pause affects all forms of legal immigration, including green card applications and U.S. citizenship processing. The decision expands restrictions already imposed earlier this year and marks one of the administration’s most aggressive steps yet to reshape legal immigration.
The policy follows last week’s deadly shooting involving members of the U.S. National Guard in Washington, where one guard member was killed and another critically wounded. Authorities have arrested an Afghan national in connection with the attack. Administration officials say the incident underscores the need for tighter immigration scrutiny.
The 19 affected countries include Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen—nations that were already subject to the most severe travel restrictions in June, including near-total entry suspensions.
Additional countries facing partial restrictions include Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.
Under the new directive, all pending immigration applications from these countries are placed on hold. Applicants will now be required to undergo what the administration describes as a comprehensive re-review process, including potential interviews or re-interviews, aimed at identifying any national security or public safety risks.
Since returning to office in January, President Trump has sharply escalated immigration enforcement, deploying federal agents to major U.S. cities and significantly limiting asylum access at the southern border. While deportations have been heavily emphasized, this latest move signals a renewed focus on restricting legal immigration, framed by the White House as a matter of national security.
The administration has also intensified its rhetoric in recent days, particularly toward Somali immigrants, with President Trump making inflammatory remarks that have drawn sharp criticism from civil rights advocates.
Immigration attorneys say the policy is already having immediate consequences. Sharvari Dalal-Dheini, a senior official with the American Immigration Lawyers Association, reports widespread cancellations of citizenship oath ceremonies, naturalization interviews, and adjustment-of-status appointments for applicants from the affected countries.
The White House has defended the decision, blaming previous immigration policies under former President Joe Biden and arguing that the pause is necessary to protect Americans.
This is a developing story, and we will continue to bring you updates as more details emerge.
Reporting by Kathy Moore.
