NEW DELHI / Washington, D.C.: The U.S. government has announced a sweeping pause on immigration and naturalization processes for individuals from 19 countries designated as “high-risk,” as part of a major overhaul aimed at tightening national security and immigration vetting.
Under a directive issued December 2, 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has ordered an immediate hold on:
- All pending asylum applications (Form I-589), pending a comprehensive review.
- All pending immigration benefit requests submitted by individuals from the 19 affected countries.
- Previously approved immigration benefits for immigrants from those countries who entered the U.S. on or after January 20, 2021 — subject to re-review, which may include re-interviews.
The memo instructs USCIS officials to carry out individualized, case-by-case assessments, including re-interviews where needed, to re-evaluate national-security, public-safety, or inadmissibility risks before deciding on any benefit approval.
Which Countries Are Affected
The freeze applies to immigrants from a mix of countries previously flagged under the June 2025 Presidential Proclamation 10949. The list includes countries under full suspension — such as Afghanistan, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, and others — as well as nations under partial restrictions like Cuba, Venezuela, Laos, and several others.
Broader Implications
With this directive, even lawful permanent-residence applications, green card petitions, and asylum case reviews are effectively frozen for individuals from the designated countries — at least until the re-evaluation process is completed. The move marks one of the most far-reaching immigration-policy changes in recent U.S. history, targeting legal immigration and permanent residency pathways.
For many applicants — including those who had been living and working in the U.S. for years — this means uncertainty and long delays, as cases are reopened and re-examined from scratch under enhanced security scrutiny.
According to the memo, the review may involve interviews, biometric or identity-verification checks, and evaluations of criminal or security risk. USCIS advises that some benefit requests “may be denied” as a result of the re-review.
Government’s Rationale
The freeze follows the administration’s assertion that certain countries on the list have inadequate identity-management, poor documentation systems, minimal cooperation with U.S. authorities, high visa-overstay rates, or are sources of instability or potential terrorist threats. The 2025 proclamation that first imposed entry restrictions on the 19 countries cited these concerns, arguing that unrestricted admission posed a risk to U.S. national security and public safety.
By instituting a full application freeze and re-evaluation program, officials say they intend to close legal immigration “loopholes,” tighten vetting, and ensure that the individuals seeking benefits do not pose security or public-safety threats.
- All new and pending asylum applications from affected persons are on hold.
- Green-card and naturalization processes for individuals from the 19 countries have been suspended.
- Approved benefits for immigrants from these countries who entered after January 20, 2021 are under re-review and could be revoked or delayed.
- The measure affects not only new arrivals but also long-standing residents who were in the process of adjusting status.
For many immigrants and families, the freeze means uncertainty — with no clear timeline for when their cases will be re-evaluated or resolved.
