The United States has suspended the processing of immigration applications connected to 19 countries already listed under a federal travel ban, according to an internal government memo.
The directive instructs immigration officers to pause all final decisions, including approvals and denials, and to halt naturalization ceremonies for migrants who were close to receiving US citizenship.
The move follows reports that President Donald Trump is weighing an expansion of his June travel order, which currently applies to 19 nations, potentially increasing that number to 30.
Part of a Wider Immigration Crackdown
The latest restrictions come amid heightened scrutiny of US immigration policy after a shooting in Washington, DC, last week that left one National Guard soldier dead and another critically injured. The suspect is an Afghan national residing in the United States.
On 4 June, the White House designated 19 countries—mostly in Africa, the Middle East, and the Caribbean—for full or partial immigration limits.
The new guidance, issued Tuesday by US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), also follows the agency’s recent freeze on all asylum decisions and its announcement that it will review previously issued green cards for migrants from the listed countries.
The memo outlines broad restrictions, stating:
“This hold includes all form types and making any final decisions (approvals, denials) as well as completing any oath ceremonies.”
USCIS spokesperson Matthew Tragesser confirmed the policy shift to the New York Times, saying the administration aims to ensure that new citizens represent “the best of the best,” adding, “Citizenship is a privilege, not a right.”
Officials Have Already Canceled the Hearings
Immigration attorneys say clients from countries such as Venezuela, Iran, and Afghanistan have already had their scheduled citizenship interviews cancelled this week.
Naturalization ceremonies are typically the conclusion of a lengthy, multi-year application process and are marked by new citizens taking the oath of allegiance while waving small American flags.
Political Backdrop
The White House has increasingly linked migration to what President Trump calls America’s “social dysfunction,” presenting the new measures as part of a broader effort to tighten immigration controls.
The latest enforcement actions follow the fatal shooting of Guardsman Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and the serious wounding of Andrew Wolfe, 24. The suspect had entered the US through a program designed to protect Afghans who assisted American forces before the Taliban returned to power.
