US Halts Immigration Applications from 19 Travel Ban Nations

By Manisha Sahu | America News World
December 3, 2025

The Trump administration has imposed a sweeping pause on immigration applications filed by individuals from 19 countries currently on the U.S. travel ban list, effectively freezing green card processing, naturalization ceremonies, and other immigration benefits for thousands of people. The move marks one of the most significant escalations yet in the administration’s tightening of U.S. immigration policy.

A message from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is shown at a security checkpoint in Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Airport as government-ordered flight reductions began. In a social media statement on Dec. 1, Noem said she had urged President Donald Trump to impose “a full travel ban on every country that has been sending our nation killers, leeches, and entitlement seekers.” (New York Times)

Officials confirmed that the pause applies to immigrants from Iran, Sudan, Eritrea, Haiti, Somalia, and other nations whose travel to the United States was restricted under an expanded order issued in June. Many of these countries face chronic instability, conflict, or economic hardship, and the halt affects large communities that had long relied on the U.S. immigration system as a pathway toward permanent residence and citizenship.

The abrupt suspension follows a turbulent week in national security discourse after the shooting of two National Guard members in Washington. Authorities identified the suspect as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan asylum recipient who arrived in the United States under a Biden-era humanitarian program. The attack amplified political pressure on the administration to intensify its immigration scrutiny and revisit earlier decisions allowing entry to refugees, asylum seekers, and nationals from banned countries.

A message displayed at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport in Atlanta on December 1 exemplified the administration’s tone. In it, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem reiterated her recommendation for a “full travel ban on every country… flooding our nation with killers, leeches, and entitlement junkies.” Her statement, widely shared across social media, signaled that more restrictive measures were under consideration.

A camp for internally displaced families in Baidoa, Somalia. According to agency officials, the Trump administration has suspended all immigration applications submitted by people from 19 nations placed under travel restrictions earlier this year, effectively stopping the processing of green cards and U.S. citizenship for large groups of applicants. (The New York Times)

A Full Administrative Freeze

According to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the pause applies broadly across immigration processes, but its most consequential impact will be felt in green card adjudication and naturalization. Several immigration lawyers across the country reported widespread disruptions as scheduled interviews, naturalization ceremonies, and application reviews were suddenly canceled without explanation.

Matthew Tragesser, spokesperson for USCIS, defended the decision as a necessary security measure.
“The Trump administration is making every effort to ensure individuals becoming citizens are the best of the best,” he said. “Citizenship is a privilege, not a right. We will take no chances when the future of our nation is at stake.”

The pause was not publicly announced through formal policy channels, leaving applicants, attorneys, and advocacy groups scrambling to understand the scope of the changes. Many clients who had waited months or even years for appointments arrived at USCIS field offices only to find that their case files were marked as postponed indefinitely.

Immigrants Left in Limbo

In Texas, immigration attorney Ana Maria Schwartz reported that two Venezuelan clients learned their green card interviews had been canceled upon arrival at the Houston field office. No officers provided reasons or timelines for rescheduling, she said.

“Everything is being put on hold,” Schwartz explained. “It is just like a traffic jam, and it is going to get worse and worse. People who have played by the rules for years are being told they must wait even longer — but nobody knows how long.”

Her concerns were echoed nationally. In Tennessee, attorney Elissa J. Taub said a physician represented by her firm — a Canadian citizen born in Iran — had been scheduled to take his oath of citizenship this week. The ceremony was canceled, despite his long-term green card status and ability to travel using his Canadian passport.

“We have been hearing throughout our network that this is not an isolated case,” Taub said. “Folks from Venezuela and Iran are having their naturalization oath ceremonies canceled. There is no clear guidance on what comes next.”

A System Under Strain

The U.S. immigration system is already grappling with historic backlogs. As of earlier this year, over 1.5 million asylum applications were pending, along with more than 50,000 asylum approvals granted during the Biden administration. The new enforcement measures, including the review of previously issued green cards and a pause on asylum decisions, threaten to compound an already overloaded system.

Department of Homeland Security officials argue the enhanced vetting is essential to prevent potential security threats. “Nothing is off the table until every alien is vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible,” USCIS said in a statement posted to social media.

However, critics say the administration is using isolated incidents to justify a near-total shutdown of legal immigration pathways for people from certain countries. Advocacy groups warn that the pause will create years-long delays, destabilize families, and undermine trust in the American legal immigration framework.

Uncertain Future for Thousands

One of the most pressing questions remains unanswered: how many immigrants from the 19 banned countries are currently waiting for green cards, citizenship, asylum decisions, or other benefits? USCIS officials said they could not yet provide those figures.

For many, the uncertainty is devastating. Individuals awaiting citizenship may lose job opportunities tied to their expected status. Those hoping for green cards may lose eligibility tied to age or sponsorship conditions. People with pending asylum claims could face prolonged periods of financial insecurity or legal vulnerability.

The administration has indicated that the pause may remain in place until new vetting procedures are implemented — a process that could take months or even longer.

For now, thousands of immigrants who have spent years building their lives in the United States are left watching the system grind to a halt, unsure when — or if — their path to citizenship or permanent residence will resume.

As the situation develops, lawyers, families, and advocacy organizations continue to call for clearer communication and a more transparent process. But in the current political environment, clarity appears to be in short supply.