In yet another sweeping move reshaping the U.S. immigration system, the Trump administration has halted all immigration cases filed by nationals of 19 countries, according to internal U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) guidance obtained by CBS News. This includes green card applications, work authorization, humanitarian filings, and even pending citizenship ceremonies for lawful permanent residents who were days away from becoming U.S. citizens. This unilateral suspension marks one of the broadest pauses on legal immigration processing in modern U.S. history, affecting thousands of individuals and families across multiple immigration categories.
USCIS has frozen all final adjudications—including approvals, denials, interviews, and oath ceremonies for individuals from the countries previously identified in President Trump's June proclamation, commonly referred to as the expanded travel ban. The list includes 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 new directive applies regardless of when the individual entered the United States, whether the applicant already passed security checks, or even if they are long-term lawful permanent residents eligible for naturalization.
The suspension covers all categories of USCIS benefits, including citizenship applications, green card cases, asylum adjudications, work permits, and humanitarian filings. Even scheduled oath ceremonies are now halted, leaving many long-term permanent residents unable to complete the final step toward becoming U.S. citizens.
The administration had previously announced a national pause on asylum decisions, a complete freeze on Afghan visa and immigration processing, and a review of green card approvals for nationals of the 19 listed countries. However, the internal memo reveals a far broader scope: all pending applications for individuals from these countries are now frozen, with no timeline for resumption.
USCIS will also conduct a comprehensive re-review of cases involving nationals from the 19 countries whose applications were approved after January 2021. This review may include new background checks, mandatory interviews, re-interviews, and reassessment of admissibility or eligibility, including scrutiny for national security concerns or criminality. The memo indicates that the pause will remain in place until the USCIS Director issues a new policy lifting it.
The shift follows the recent shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, D.C., by an Afghan evacuee who arrived in the United States in 2021 and was granted asylum earlier in 2025. One of the Guard members has since died. In response, the Trump administration accelerated its implementation of restrictive immigration measures, including the possibility of expanding the travel ban to include up to 30 countries.
Former USCIS official Michael Valverde described the measure as unprecedented, noting that while tactical pauses have been used before, they have never applied to such a large population or to every category of immigration benefit.
This sudden and sweeping pause leaves many individuals in precarious situations. Citizenship applicants cannot take their oaths, green card applicants face prolonged uncertainty, asylum seekers remain without protection, employers face disruptions, and families risk extended separation. The lack of any timeline for lifting the suspension only deepens the uncertainty.
Individuals from the affected countries should consult an immigration attorney immediately to preserve eligibility, protect lawful status, address expiring work permits, prepare for potential re-interviews, and document hardship. It is also essential to monitor USCIS notices closely, update addresses, and maintain evidence of continuous presence and good moral character.
Saluja Law has extensive experience representing individuals from countries under heightened scrutiny, and our office continues to closely monitor developments. We advise clients on the implications of the pause, options to preserve eligibility, litigation strategies in cases of extreme hardship, emergency filings, and congressional liaison assistance.
The suspension represents a major expansion of executive authority over immigration and has imposed sudden uncertainty on thousands of individuals who have lived, worked, and contributed to American communities. Saluja Law will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as more information becomes available. If you or a loved one may be affected, contact our office immediately for guidance.