U.S. suspends immigration cases for citizens of 19 countries, according to guidance

The Trump administration has temporarily stopped processing immigration applications from individuals originating from 19 nations, marking a new step in limiting legal immigration pathways following last weeks attack on two National Guard members in Washington, D.C., according to internal government guidance and a source familiar with the decision.

Internal U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) guidance obtained by CBS News revealed that employees were instructed on Monday to halt final adjudication on all cases involving applicants from these countries, which are affected by a proclamation issued by President Trump in June, commonly referred to as the travel ban.

The suspension extends to citizenship ceremonies for permanent residents from the 19 nations who were close to naturalization. The document indicated that this pause is temporary, pending further instructions on vetting procedures for these immigrants. The guidance stated, This hold includes all form types and making any final decisions (approvals, denials) as well as completing any oath ceremonies.

Trumps June proclamation imposed nearly complete restrictions on individuals from Afghanistan, Myanmar (Burma), Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen, while partially limiting entries from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.

The recent guidance shows that the immigration crackdown following the National Guard shooting is broader than previously reported. The suspect, an Afghan evacuee who entered the U.S. in September 2021 under the Biden administration and was granted asylum in April 2025, carried out the attack, resulting in the death of one soldier.

Since the incident, the administration has introduced multiple immigration restrictions, including a pause on asylum decisions, a suspension of visa and immigration processing for Afghans, and reviews of green card applications for nationals of the 19 affected countries. However, the broader freeze affecting all USCIS cases, including citizenship applications, had not been publicly disclosed.

To apply for U.S. citizenship, applicants generally must have held legal permanent resident status for three to five years. The Department of Homeland Security, overseeing USCIS, confirmed the suspension in a statement to CBS News, emphasizing that the Trump Administration is making every effort to ensure individuals becoming citizens are the best of the best. The agency added, We will take no chances when the future of our nation is at stake and noted that all immigration benefits granted by the Biden administration to nationals from the listed countries are being reviewed.

Reports indicate that officials are considering expanding the travel ban to additional countries, potentially increasing the list to around 30 nations. Immigration attorneys have noted that some clients cases, including citizenship ceremonies, have been stopped or canceled.

Former USCIS official Michael Valverde described the move as unprecedented, noting that while tactical pauses have occurred previously for additional vetting, this action applies to a large group across all types of immigration benefits.

Author: Sophia Brooks