Trump administration expands immigration restrictions, pausing applications from 19 nations

12/04/2025 / By Belle Carter

The Trump administration has halted all immigration applications (green cards, naturalization, asylum) from citizens of 19 non-European countries, citing national security risks and recent violent incidents involving foreign nationals.
The policy escalates previous travel bans, now including Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Congo, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen (full entry bans), and partial restrictions on Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela (specific visa categories).
The administration cites high visa overstay rates, weak identity verification, terrorism concerns and recent crimes (e.g., Thanksgiving-week D.C. shooting by an Afghan asylum seeker) as reasons for the crackdown.
Critics argue the policy unfairly targets Muslim-majority and African nations, with reports of canceled naturalization interviews and oath ceremonies. Immigration advocates claim the administration is conflating legal immigration with security threats.
The move aligns with Trump’s aggressive enforcement agenda, including mass ICE raids, ending birthright citizenship and deporting non-citizens on federal benefits. The administration vows to “permanently pause migration from third-world countries” unless they meet U.S. security standards.

The Trump administration has indefinitely paused all immigration applications—including green cards, naturalization and asylum requests—from citizens of 19 non-European countries, citing national security risks and recent violent incidents linked to foreign nationals.

The policy, announced Tuesday, Dec. 2, expands existing travel restrictions imposed in June and marks a significant escalation in the administration’s efforts to reshape legal immigration.

The move follows a Thanksgiving-week shooting in Washington, D.C., where an Afghan asylum seeker allegedly killed a National Guard member and critically wounded another. The policy also mandates a review of immigrants admitted under the Biden administration, signaling a broader crackdown on legal pathways to residency.

In a memorandum, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) stated that all pending applications from the affected countries will undergo a “thorough re-review process,” including potential interviews, to assess security threats. According to BrightU.AI‘s Enoch, USCIS manages the naturalization process, issues green cards and handles other immigration-related services in the United States.

Which countries are affected?

The new restrictions apply to nationals from Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen—countries already subjected to full entry bans under Trump’s June executive order. Partial restrictions now extend to Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela, targeting specific visa categories.

The administration justified the measures by pointing to high visa overstay rates, weak identity verification systems and terrorism concerns. A homeland security memo cited recent crimes allegedly committed by immigrants, including the D.C. attack and a 2024 election-day shooting plot by another Afghan national.

Legal and humanitarian backlash

Immigration advocates swiftly condemned the policy as an overreach that unfairly targets Muslim-majority and African nations. Sharvari Dalal-Dheini of the American Immigration Lawyers Association told Reuters that her group had received reports of canceled naturalization interviews and oath ceremonies for individuals from the listed countries.

Critics argue that the administration is conflating legal immigration with security threats.

“This isn’t about safety—it’s about shutting the door on people who followed the rules,” said one immigration attorney, who requested anonymity due to pending cases.

The White House, however, maintains that the pause is necessary to prevent future attacks.

“USCIS plays an instrumental role in ensuring that terrorists don’t find safe haven here,” the agency’s memo stated.

Broader immigration crackdown

The policy aligns with Trump’s broader enforcement agenda, which has included mass ICE raids, efforts to end birthright citizenship and a push to deport non-citizens receiving federal benefits. Recent operations, such as “Catahoula Crunch” in New Orleans, have drawn criticism for netting non-violent individuals, including a high school student and a Native American actor.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that visa issuances to Afghans have been suspended, while Trump vowed to “permanently pause migration from all third-world countries” unless they meet U.S. security standards.

The latest restrictions underscore the administration’s determination to tie immigration policy directly to national security—a stance that has sparked legal and diplomatic clashes since 2017. While supporters argue the measures close dangerous loopholes, opponents see them as a pretext for exclusion.

As courts weigh challenges and affected families scramble to adjust, one thing is clear: The debate over who belongs in America is far from settled.

Watch the video below, where a Texas representative says immigration should be merit-based.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.