USCIS Freezes Processing for 19 Countries, Potential Travel Ban to Come
USCIS has ordered a pause on all asylum decisions and on most pending immigration benefit requests for people from 19 countries deemed “high-risk countries of concern,” according to a new policy memo issued December 2, 2025.
Here are the key changes from the memo:
- USCIS has paused all asylum adjudications – All pending I-589s, all nationalities.
- USCIS has paused most pending benefits for nationals of 19 countries (including I-140, I-130, I-485, I-131, I-765 processing): Afghanistan, Burma (Myanmar), Burundi, Chad, Cuba, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Laos, Libya, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Togo, Turkmenistan, Venezuela, Yemen.
- USCIS will re-examine previously approved benefits: For nationals of these 19 countries who entered on/after Jan 20, 2021 (including possible re-interviews).
In addition, there is a potential broader travel ban on the horizon. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem publicly recommended a wider travel ban on X but did not specify timing or which countries could be affected.
USCIS halts processing for 19 countries in the wake of D.C. shooting
The official guidance from USCIS comes one week after two members of the National Guard were shot in Washington, D.C. One has since died of her injuries. An Afghan national was arrested and charged with murder.
In the days following the shooting, the Trump administration paused visa reviews and other immigration processing for people traveling on Afghan passports, including Special Immigrant Visas. USCIS also stated they would not make decisions on any asylum petitions, regardless of nationality, until it conducts a comprehensive review of asylum applications.
The latest USCIS memo on December 2nd is an escalation of the Department of Homeland Security’s efforts to “safeguard the American people…from national security threats.”
USCIS’s guidance specifically mentions asylum (Form I-589) and several other benefits that will be paused for people from the 19 countries — including I-485, I-90, I-751, N-470, and I-131 — while USCIS conducts new security reviews. This applies to anyone who was born in or is a citizen of one of the 19 affected countries.
What are the 19 “high-risk” countries impacted by USCIS’s announcement?
The countries referenced in the latest USCIS memo and named in President Trump’s Proclamation 10949 “Restricting the Entry of Foreign Nationals To Protect the United States From Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats,” (signed June 4, 2025) include:
- Afghanistan
- Myanmar (Burma)
- Burundi
- Chad
- Republic of the Congo
- Cuba
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Haiti
- Iran
- Laos
- Libya
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia
- Sudan
- Togo
- Turkmenistan
- Venezuela
- Yemen
DHS Secretary recommends expanded travel ban
On December 1, 2025, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Kristi Noem posted on X that she would like to broaden travel restrictions.
“I just met with the President,” she wrote. “I am recommending a full travel ban on every damn country that’s been flooding our nation.”
Because it’s still unclear when any new travel bans might start or which countries they might cover, many immigration attorneys are urging foreign nationals to avoid leaving the U.S. for now, if they can.
How will foreign nationals be impacted by this news?
Below is a breakdown of how different foreign nationals may be impacted by the USCIS guidance from December 2.
If you’re from one of the 19 countries
- Most immigration decisions are on hold. If you’ve applied for a Green Card, certain travel documents, or other benefits with USCIS, your case may not get a decision until this “security review” is finished.
- Past approvals may be re-reviewed. If you’re already a permanent resident and you came to the U.S. in recent years, your Green Card or other past approvals could be reviewed again and you may be asked to attend an interview again.
- Your current valid immigration status remains valid, however, until official communication from USCIS states otherwise.
If you have a pending asylum case (any nationality)
- Expect longer waits. USCIS has been told to pause decisions on all asylum applications, not just for people from the 19 countries.
- Your case is still “active.” You may still get biometrics or interview notices, and you still have to respond to any USCIS letters and keep your address updated.
If you’re planning to travel soon
If you’re from one of the 19 countries and outside the U.S.:
- New visas and immigration applications are more likely to be delayed or put on hold.
- Even if you have a visa, you could face extra questions at the border because of the existing travel restrictions under Proclamation 10949.
- If you have valid status, consider returning to the U.S. immediately, if possible.
Living in the U.S. now (any status) and planning a trip abroad:
- If you’re from one of the 19 countries, avoid non-essential travel if you can until there’s more clarity: coming back could be slower, riskier, or involve more questioning.
- If you have a pending Green Card or asylum case, talk to a qualified immigration attorney before you leave the U.S., so you understand re-entry risks for your specific situation.
Impacted by the news above or have questions about international travel? Request a consultation with Manifest or book a brief call with an attorney to ask your legal questions here.
