WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Trump administration has paused all immigration applications from 19 countries deemed “high-risk,” according to a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) memorandum released Tuesday evening. The move expands upon earlier travel restrictions and follows last week’s ambush attack near the White House that killed one National Guard member and critically injured another. Authorities identified the suspect as an Afghan national.
The temporary halt applies to applicants from countries already subject to a June travel-restriction order — including Afghanistan, Haiti, Iran, Somalia and Venezuela — and extends to Burundi, Chad, Cuba, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Laos, Libya, Myanmar, Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Togo, Turkmenistan and Yemen. USCIS said every applicant from these nations must undergo a “thorough re-review process,” potentially including new interviews, to assess national security risks.
The memo acknowledges delays for pending cases but says the pause is necessary to “protect and preserve national security.” USCIS also launched a full-scale review of all green card holders from the listed countries.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said she has recommended expanding travel restrictions, while the administration is preparing a revised list. President Trump has said he intends to “permanently pause migration from all Third World Countries,” though the White House has not clarified which nations would be included.
The pause marks the administration’s latest step to tighten immigration controls following the D.C. shooting and reflects growing internal coordination with DHS and USCIS on security-based screening measures.
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