Trump Administration Suspends Immigration Applications from 19 Countries

On December 2, 2025, the Trump administration announced an immediate suspension of all immigration applications—including green cards, naturalizations, and asylum requests—for individuals from 19 countries previously subjected to travel bans. This decision, detailed in a policy memorandum from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), was prompted by national security and public safety concerns following a recent incident involving an Afghan national accused of fatally shooting a National Guard soldier near the White House.

The affected countries include Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela. The policy mandates a comprehensive re-evaluation of all pending applications from these nations, including potential interviews or re-interviews, to assess any national security or public safety threats.

This move builds upon earlier travel restrictions imposed in June 2025 and reflects the administration's intensified focus on immigration enforcement, particularly concerning individuals from regions deemed high-risk. Critics argue that the policy may lead to significant disruptions for immigrants from the targeted nations, including those already residing in the United States.

The suspension follows a November 26, 2025, incident near the Farragut West metro station in Washington, D.C., approximately two blocks from the White House. Two members of the West Virginia National Guard were shot; Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, succumbed to her injuries, while Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, was critically injured. The suspect, identified as 29-year-old Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal, was also wounded during the incident and is currently in custody.

Lakanwal entered the United States on September 8, 2021, under Operation Allies Welcome, a program initiated to assist Afghans at risk following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. He was granted asylum in April 2025. Prior to his arrival in the U.S., Lakanwal worked for Unit 03—also known as the Kandahar Strike Force—an elite CIA-backed counterterrorism unit in Afghanistan.

The USCIS memorandum mandates a comprehensive re-evaluation of all pending applications from these countries, including potential interviews or re-interviews, to assess any national security or public safety threats. This move builds upon earlier travel restrictions and reflects the administration's intensified focus on immigration enforcement, particularly concerning individuals from regions deemed high-risk.

Critics argue that the policy may lead to significant disruptions for immigrants from the targeted nations, including those already residing in the United States. The American Immigration Lawyers Association reported instances of canceled naturalization and adjustment interviews for individuals from these countries.

Afghan Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi stated that the recent shooting in Washington, D.C., allegedly committed by Afghan immigrant Rahmanullah Lakanwal, is not related to the Afghan government or its people. He emphasized that Lakanwal acted independently and had been brought to the U.S. under American programs.

This policy suspension is part of a series of immigration restrictions implemented by the Trump administration, including the travel bans imposed in June 2025. The current suspension extends these restrictions to individuals already present in the U.S., marking a significant escalation in immigration enforcement measures.

The suspension has sparked debate over the balance between national security and the rights of immigrants. While the administration emphasizes the need for stringent measures to protect public safety, opponents argue that such policies may unfairly target individuals based on their nationality and disrupt the lives of those seeking to build a future in the United States.

As the situation develops, the impact of this suspension on immigrant communities and the broader implications for U.S. immigration policy remain to be seen.