By Alex Ababio
The Trump administration announced on Tuesday that it has temporarily stopped all immigration applications—including green card requests and U.S. citizenship processing—from immigrants originating from 19 non-European countries, citing intensified concerns over national security and public safety.
Officials say the sweeping pause affects the same 19 countries that were already hit with a partial travel ban in June, adding an additional layer of restrictions to a policy framework that has long been central to President Donald Trump’s immigration agenda.
The countries include Afghanistan, Somalia, and others previously flagged for heightened monitoring.
According to the administration’s memorandum, “these measures are necessary to prevent individuals who may pose a threat from entering or gaining legal status in the United States,” adding that the move is “a direct response to emerging global security challenges.”
Triggering Incident: Attack on U.S. National Guard Members
The new moratorium follows the violent attack on U.S. National Guard personnel in Washington last week. An Afghan national has been arrested in connection with the shooting, which left one Guard member dead and another critically injured.
The memo emphasised that the assault demonstrates “the urgent need to reassess the vetting systems for nationals from high-risk regions.”
A senior DHS official, speaking on background, said:
“We cannot ignore incidents that reveal vulnerabilities in our vetting process. The pause gives us room to re-examine every application with maximum scrutiny.
Escalating Rhetoric From the White House
President Trump has also sharpened his public criticism of some immigrant communities—particularly Somalis. In a recent address, he referred to Somalis as “garbage”, adding,
“We don’t want them in our country. We are done taking risks.”
Since returning to office in January, Trump has intensified enforcement at all levels of the immigration system—from surging federal agents into major U.S. cities to turning away asylum seekers at the U.S.–Mexico border. Analysts note that while the administration has consistently promoted deportation efforts, the latest order indicates a new willingness to aggressively reshape the legal immigration landscape as well.
The 19 Countries Affected
The memorandum released on Wednesday targets the following countries, all of which appeared in the June travel-ban expansion:
Full Suspension Countries (Severe Restrictions Since June):
Afghanistan
Burma
Chad
Republic of the Congo
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Haiti
Iran
Libya
Somalia
Sudan
Yemen
Partially Restricted Countries (Since June):
Burundi
Cuba
Laos
Sierra Leone
Togo
Turkmenistan
Venezuela
Officials say these nations were chosen because they “failed to meet U.S. identity-verification, information-sharing, or public-safety benchmarks.”
A senior administration official added a new direct quote in the memo:
“This suspension is not permanent, but it will remain in place until each country meets the updated security standards issued in July 2025.”
What the New Policy Requires
The directive orders that all pending applications from the 19 targeted countries be placed on immediate hold. It further mandates that each case undergo a complete re-evaluation, which may include:
A new background check
A mandatory interview or re-interview
Additional biometric screening
Enhanced security clearance review
The memo states that the re-review process is designed “to fully assess all national security and public safety threats.”
Officials also referenced several “recent crimes” allegedly linked to immigrants from the listed countries, including the National Guard shooting.
Human Impact: Oaths Cancelled, Interviews Stopped
Sharvari Dalal-Dheini, senior director of government relations at the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), confirmed that the organisation has begun receiving reports of cancelled oath ceremonies, halted naturalisation interviews, and postponed adjustment-of-status appointments for individuals from the affected nations.
“Our clients are confused, scared, and suddenly unsure of their future. Many have lived here legally for years, paying taxes and raising families. Now everything is frozen without clear timelines.” she said.
According to AILA, more than 62,000 immigrants from the 19 listed countries currently have pending applications—meaning thousands could now face indefinite delays.
Recent U.S. immigration data and security assessments give broader context to today’s announcement:
1. DHS July 2025 Report on Vetting Failures
A Department of Homeland Security review released in July 2025 found that 6 out of the 19 listed countries failed to provide “consistent identity-sharing cooperation,” raising “significant verification challenges.”
2. Migration Policy Institute Analysis (August 2025)
The MPI reported that over the past year, applicants from these 19 countries made up 3.7% of all U.S. immigration filings, yet accounted for more than 22% of cases flagged for secondary security screening.
3. FBI 2025 Threat Briefing
An FBI briefing to Congress in September 2025 noted that while most immigrants from high-risk regions pose no security threat, there has been “a small but notable uptick in cases requiring counter-terrorism review.”
An intelligence analyst quoted in the Senate hearing said:
“We are not seeing widespread threats, but vulnerabilities remain. Some countries simply cannot provide reliable criminal-history data.”
4. Human-Rights Concerns Raised by UNHCR
The UN Refugee Agency warned in an October 2025 statement that blanket suspensions of legal immigration could “put legitimate asylum seekers at heightened risk,” especially in countries with active conflict like Yemen, Afghanistan, and Sudan.
A UNHCR spokesperson noted:
“Restricting lawful pathways does not reduce risk—it increases desperation.”
Critics Say Policy Is Politically Motivated
Immigration advocates argue that the new suspension is more about politics than security. Critics say the White House is leveraging last week’s attack to justify policies that were already being drafted.
A policy expert at Georgetown University commented:
“This is less about immediate security needs and more about cementing a hardline immigration framework that President Trump campaigned on.”
Several lawmakers, including members of the Congressional Black Caucus, have described the policy as discriminatory because all 19 affected countries are non-European, and many are in Africa.
White House Response to Backlash
Administration officials deny any discriminatory motive. A senior official insisted during a press briefing:
“Country-based restrictions are based on security gaps, not geography or race. We welcome lawful immigrants—but only when we can confirm who they are.”
The official added that the re-evaluation may last “several months or longer, depending on country responses.”
Growing Uncertainty for Thousands
Immigrants across the United States are now facing deep uncertainty. Many had already passed interviews, medical exams, and background checks before their cases were abruptly paused.
An affected applicant from Sierra Leone told reporters:
“I was supposed to take my citizenship oath this Friday. I have waited 11 years. Now they say everything is on hold. They cannot tell me for how long.”
Immigration attorneys expect the backlog to grow, with some predicting that processing times could double by mid-2026.