The United States has implemented an immediate suspension of all immigration application processing for individuals from 19 countries previously subject to travel restrictions, according to an internal government memorandum obtained by CBS News. The directive instructs immigration officials to cease final adjudication of all cases and postpone naturalization ceremonies for applicants nearing citizenship approval.
This administrative freeze emerges amid reports that the Trump administration is contemplating an expansion of existing travel restrictions from the current 19 nations to approximately 30 countries. The policy shift represents the latest escalation in immigration enforcement measures following last week’s fatal shooting in Washington DC that resulted in the death of one National Guard soldier and left another critically wounded. The primary suspect in the shooting is an Afghan national residing in the United States.
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued the comprehensive guidance on Tuesday, building upon last week’s suspension of asylum determinations and initiating re-examinations of green card visas previously granted to migrants from the restricted nations. The official memorandum explicitly states that the hold encompasses ‘all form types and making any final decisions (approvals, denials) as well as completing any oath ceremonies.’
Matthew Tragesser, USCIS spokesperson, confirmed the suspension to The New York Times, emphasizing that ‘The Trump administration is making every effort to ensure individuals becoming citizens are the best of the best. Citizenship is a privilege, not a right.’
Immigration attorneys report numerous canceled citizenship hearings this week affecting clients from Venezuela, Iran, and Afghanistan, according to ABC News. These naturalization ceremonies typically represent the culmination of a rigorous five-year application process, featuring emotional oath-taking rituals where new citizens pledge allegiance to the United States while waving miniature American flags.
The policy implementation coincides with President Trump’s increasingly vocal assertions blaming migrants and refugees for contributing to what he characterizes as America’s ‘social dysfunction.’ The administration’s intensified immigration crackdown follows the tragic shooting incident that claimed the life of 20-year-old guardsman Sarah Beckstrom and seriously injured 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe. The Afghan suspect entered the United States through a special protection program designed for individuals who had collaborated with U.S. forces prior to the Taliban’s return to power.