Wednesday 03 / December / 2025
Washington DC: The US government on Tuesday suspended the processing of all immigration applications from 19 countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
President Donald Trump's administration cited national security concerns as the basis for the move after an attack on National Guard members in Washington last week. An Afghan national was arrested as a suspect.
What is the US immigration ban?
Under the new policy, all applicants from the affected countries must undergo a comprehensive vetting process. The administration has not specified how long the pause will last or whether additional nations could be added.
Officials said the shift is intended to ensure the integrity of the immigration system and prevent what they called "security gaps." Critics warn the move could leave thousands in legal uncertainty while the review continues.
Several of the countries on the list were already subject to a partial travel ban.
Countries facing the most severe restrictions include Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. These states saw full suspensions on most entries in June, with limited exceptions.
Others on the list — Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela — had partial restrictions and will now see expanded scrutiny.
What does the policy mean?
The new policy places a hold on pending applications and mandates a comprehensive re-review of all cases from the affected nations. This may include new interviews and security assessments.
Sharvari Dalal-Dheini, senior director of government relations for the American Immigration Lawyers Association, said the organization had received reports of cancelled oath ceremonies, naturalisation interviews and adjustment-of-status appointments for individuals from countries on the list.
Since returning to office in January, Trump has prioritised immigration enforcement, expanding federal deployments to major US cities and further limiting access to asylum at the US-Mexico border. While deportations have been at the center of his messaging, legal immigration had received comparatively less attention until now.
Minnesota Somali community targeted by ICE
Meanwhile, US federal authorities are believed to be preparing a focused US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation in Minnesota that would primarily target Somali immigrants living unlawfully in the country.
A person familiar with the planning told the AP news agency that an ICE swoop could begin in the coming days and would concentrate on individuals in the Minneapolis–St Paul area who have final deportation orders.
US President Donald Trump has recently intensified his rhetoric about the state's Somali community with remarks that community leaders say have increased fears of profiling and inflamed local concerns.
