USCIS halts all immigration cases for nationals of 19 countries, including naturalizations
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has ordered officers to halt final adjudication on all cases for nationals of 19 "countries of concern" — a pause that covers all USCIS form types and even completing naturalization oath ceremonies — citing a June 4 proclamation that enumerated countries with full restrictions for some (e.g., Afghanistan, Iran, Somalia) and limited measures for others. The move, announced after the D.C. shooting suspect was identified as an Afghan national, was described by USCIS Director Joseph Edlow as a "full scale, rigorous reexamination" to protect the country ("American safety is non negotiable"), while DHS said the pause aims to ensure "the best of the best" become citizens.
📌 Key Facts
- USCIS internal guidance directs officers to stop final adjudication on all cases for nationals of 19 'countries of concern,' pausing all USCIS form types for those nationals and explicitly including completion of naturalization oath ceremonies.
- The guidance points to a June 4 presidential proclamation to define the 19 countries, enumerated as: Afghanistan, Burma (Myanmar), Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen (full restrictions/limits) and Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela (partial/limited entry scrutiny).
- USCIS confirmed it suspended all immigration applications from Afghan nationals with immediate effect the night of the D.C. shooting; that action followed identification of the shooting suspect as an Afghan national.
- USCIS Director Joseph Edlow said the agency is conducting a 'full‑scale, rigorous reexamination' of every green card from 'every country of concern,' adding on X that 'American safety is non negotiable.'
- USCIS issued new guidance the same day signaling tougher scrutiny for applicants from the 19 'high‑risk' countries and said it is reexamining green‑card applications as part of the week's measures.
- PBS/AP reporting indicates a refugee-case review had already been in motion before the D.C. shooting, meaning some reviews predated the recent guidance.
- DHS, in a statement reported to CBS, did not dispute the freeze and said the pause is intended to ensure 'the best of the best' become U.S. citizens.
📊 Relevant Data
As of 2022, the Afghan immigrant population in the United States was approximately 195,000, representing about 0.4% of the total immigrant population of around 46 million.
Afghan Immigrants in the United States — Migration Policy Institute
Since 2021, 5,005 Afghan migrants have been flagged for national security concerns out of more than 70,000 brought to the US under Operation Allies Welcome, representing about 7% of this group.
Over 5K Afghan migrants flagged on ‘national security’ grounds since 2021, document reveals — New York Post
Approximately 3.3 million lawful permanent residents in the United States come from the 19 countries subject to the travel ban, representing a significant portion of immigrants whose cases may be reviewed.
Full list of countries facing green card reviews after DC shooting — Newsweek
In FY2023, the total visa overstay rate for Afghan nationals on B1/B2 visas was 9.70%, compared to the overall non-VWP overstay rate of about 3%.
Entry/Exit Overstay Report — U.S. Department of Homeland Security
In FY2023, the total visa overstay rate for Iranian nationals on B1/B2 visas was 4.99%, higher than some groups but lower than others among the listed countries.
Entry/Exit Overstay Report — U.S. Department of Homeland Security
📰 Sources (5)
- Internal USCIS guidance directs officers to 'stop final adjudication on all cases' for nationals of the 19 'countries of concern.'
- The freeze explicitly includes completing naturalization oath ceremonies for eligible green‑card holders from those countries.
- DHS did not dispute the freeze in a statement to CBS, saying it aims to ensure 'the best of the best' become citizens.
- This pause goes beyond prior reporting of green‑card reviews by covering all USCIS form types for affected nationals.
- Edlow said on Nov. 27 USCIS is conducting a 'full scale, rigorous reexamination' of every green card from 'every country of concern' and declared 'American safety is non negotiable.'
- USCIS issued new guidance the same day signaling tougher scrutiny for applicants from 19 'high‑risk' countries when seeking immigration benefits.
- Reiterates USCIS is reexamining green card applications for people from countries deemed 'of concern' as part of the week’s measures.
- Adds AP’s memo detail that a refugee-case review was in motion before the shooting.
- USCIS pointed to the June 4 proclamation to define the 19 'countries of concern' and enumerated them: full restrictions/limits for Afghanistan, Burma (Myanmar), Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen; partial/limited entry for Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.
- USCIS confirmed it suspended all immigration applications from Afghan nationals with immediate effect on the night of the D.C. shooting.
- Direct quote from USCIS Director Joseph Edlow on X: 'The protection of this country and of the American people remains paramount... American safety is non negotiable.'
- Context reaffirmed: The order followed identification of the D.C. shooting suspect as an Afghan national; review is described as a 'full scale, rigorous reexamination of every Green Card' from countries of concern.