The United States has suspended all immigration, green card, and citizenship-related applications from 19 non-European countries, citing “national security and public safety” concerns. The new restrictions, effective Tuesday (December 2), were announced by the Trump administration, according to a report from Reuters.
This decision expands on partial travel bans that had already been in place for these countries since June, marking a significant tightening of U.S. immigration policy.
Countries Facing Full and Partial Restrictions
The memo identifies the countries facing complete or near-complete suspension of entry.
Countries under full suspension since June:
Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.
Countries under partial restrictions now included in the list of 19:Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.
All Pending Applications Frozen, Mandatory Re-Evaluation Required
Under the new guidelines, all pending immigration applications from these countries will be halted. Applicants must undergo a complete reassessment process to verify any potential national security or public safety risks.
Trigger for the Policy: Attack on National Guard Members
According to the government memorandum, the move follows last week’s attack on two National Guard members in Washington, D.C. An Afghan national was arrested as the prime suspect. The attack left one soldier dead and another critically injured.
Trump Prioritizes Hardline Immigration Measures
Since returning to office in January, President Donald Trump has emphasized strict immigration enforcement. His administration has deployed federal agents to major U.S. cities and intensified pushbacks of asylum seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border.
While the Trump administration previously focused more on deportations than legal reform, the latest move signals a shift toward tightening legal immigration channels as well—placing blame on former President Joe Biden’s policies for security vulnerabilities.
