The federal government has ordered an immediate halt to the processing of all new asylum claims and is implementing heightened scrutiny for visa and citizenship applicants from nearly twenty nations. This policy shift follows a recent incident in the nation’s capital.
Administration officials have directed U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to suspend action on approximately 1.5 million pending asylum applications. This represents a significant reversal from recent efforts to expedite and reduce the existing case backlog.
In a separate but related directive, the agency is ordered to pause adjudication of a wide array of immigration benefits—including work permits, permanent residency, and naturalization—for individuals from 19 specific countries previously designated as high-risk. Nationals from these countries already face travel restrictions to the United States.
The list of affected nations includes Afghanistan, Iran, Venezuela, Somalia, and several others. Furthermore, USCIS is mandated to conduct a comprehensive re-review of all applications from these countries that were approved since early 2021. This process may involve new interviews to reassess potential security concerns.
The policy changes are framed by the administration as necessary for national security. Officials have cited gaps in previous vetting procedures, particularly for individuals evacuated from conflict zones, as a primary justification for the sweeping review.
Critics of the move argue that the existing screening process for asylum seekers, especially from Afghanistan, is already rigorous and lengthy. They contend the new measures will create severe backlogs, inflict hardship on vulnerable populations seeking protection, and represent an inefficient use of government resources.
Legal challenges to the policy are anticipated, continuing a pattern of court battles over immigration enforcement. While these cases proceed, the implementation is expected to significantly delay thousands of applications, leaving applicants in a prolonged state of uncertainty.