The United States has thrown a dramatic curveball at hopeful immigrants. As of early December 2025, all immigration applications — from green-card requests to citizenship and asylum claims — have been paused for citizens of 19 mostly non-European countries. The move marks one of the strongest immigration crackdowns in recent history, and affects thousands who expected new beginnings in the U.S.
A recent fatal shooting in Washington, D.C. involving a person from one of the previously restricted countries prompted the U.S. government to upgrade immigration controls. Authorities say the crackdown is about national security and public safety.
The freeze affects anyone who was born in or holds citizenship from these 19 countries:
Afghanistan, Myanmar (Burma), Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela.
All pending immigrant-benefit applications from these countries — green cards, citizenship requests, asylum petitions — are on hold. Even some visas already issued might be subject to review.
What It Means for Immigrants & Asylum-Seekers
- People awaiting approval face indefinite delays. Interviews, naturalization ceremonies and visa processing have reportedly been canceled or postponed.
- Asylum seekers — even those already in the U.S. — may see their requests stalled, leaving them in legal limbo.
- For many, life plans — employment abroad, family reunification, studies — are now uncertain. The timing could disrupt futures for thousands who had pinned hopes on migration.
🇺🇸 The Government’s Case: Security First
The official stance: this freeze is necessary to re-evaluate all immigration from “countries of concern.” The relevant agency, US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), says it wants to prevent potential threats from slipping through.
The freeze builds on earlier travel bans and reflects a wider push by Donald Trump and his administration for stricter immigration policies. Officials argue these are tough but necessary steps to keep the country secure.
