KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The United States has paused all immigration applications, including green card and citizenship processing, for immigrants from 19 non-European countries, including Afghanistan, citing national security and public safety concerns.
According to CBS, an internal document from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) instructed agency staff on Monday to “stop final adjudication on all cases” involving individuals from the 19 countries currently subject to US travel restrictions.
The suspension includes the completion of naturalization ceremonies for permanent residents from these countries who were on the verge of becoming US citizens. USCIS indicated the pause is a temporary measure while the administration develops new vetting procedures for immigrants from what it calls “high-risk countries.”
USCIS documents state: “This hold includes all form types and making any final decisions (approvals, denials) as well as completing any oath ceremonies.” The agency said it would conduct a comprehensive review of all “approved benefit requests” for immigrants who entered the country during the Biden administration.
The Trump administration in June had imposed near-total travel restrictions on citizens of 12 countries—Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen—while partially restricting entry for travelers from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela. Previously, the restrictions did not affect individuals already residing in the United States, but the new USCIS guidance extends scrutiny to those immigrants as well.
USCIS cited last week’s shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, D.C., as a key factor behind the decision. The suspect, 29-year-old Afghan national Rahmatullah Lakanwal, allegedly opened fire near the White House, killing Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom and critically injuring Air Force Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe.
Lakanwal, who arrived in the US in 2021, previously served in the Afghan army for ten years, including deployments alongside U.S. Special Forces in Kandahar. US officials confirmed he had been vetted by the CIA in Afghanistan and granted asylum earlier in 2025 under the Trump administration.
In response to the shooting, President Trump ordered a full review of Afghan nationals admitted to the United States during the Biden administration. The US State Department also announced it had immediately paused visa issuance for individuals traveling on Afghan passports. USCIS confirmed it would halt processing of Afghan immigration and asylum applications, without specifying a timeline for resumption.
Refugee advocacy groups, UN officials, and human rights organizations have expressed concern over the sweeping measures, saying that the United States should not punish an entire refugee population for the actions of a single individual. They warn that slowing or halting immigration processing for thousands of vulnerable applicants could endanger lives, particularly those who assisted the US during its two-decade war on terror in Afghanistan and remain at risk under the Taliban or are stranded in third countries, as well as refugees fleeing conflict or persecution.
The US government has not indicated when the suspension will be lifted or when new vetting procedures will be finalized.
