The Department of Homeland Security announced that it is doubling down on processing immigration applications after two National Guard members were shot by an Afghani national last week.
Rahmanullah Lakanwal was charged with first-degree murder for allegedly shooting two National Guard members near the White House just before Thanksgiving. He had been granted asylum earlier this year under the Trump administration, after first coming to the U.S. on a temporary humanitarian parole program under the Biden administration.
In a direct order by the Trump administration, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released a memo stating that it would pause reviewing all pending applications for green cards, citizenship, or asylum from immigrants from 19 countries listed in a previous travel ban.
The 19 countries that the Trump administration describes as “high risk” are:
Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen and added restricted access applied to people from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela.
What This Means
1. All Asylum Applications from those 19 Countries Are Paused
Every single Form I-589 has been placed on hold. This means:
- No interviews
- No decisions
- No movement on existing cases
- A severe expansion of the already massive asylum backlog
If you’re an immigrant from one of these countries who is seeking asylum, expect significant delays in work authorization, case processing, and family reunification. This will further create a backlog in the overall asylum application process and may impact how long people are away from their families.
2. All Pending Immigration Benefits for People From the 19 Countries Are Frozen
This includes:
- Adjustment of status (I-485)
- Green card renewals (I-90)
- Travel documents (I-131)
- Removal of conditions (I-751)
- Naturalization (N-400)
- Other immigration benefits
These applications will not move forward until a new review process is completed. There is also a possibility that more countries may be included on the list in the coming weeks.
Prior restrictions on refugees
Last month, USCIS, a branch of DHS, had previously announced that it would re-review the status of everyone who had been admitted into the U.S. as a refugee under the Biden administration, essentially reopening those cases.
A separate memo sent on November 21, 2025 stated that some people may need to be interviewed again which may place them at risk of losing their status. There have been reports of individuals getting detained during these interviews if there was suspicion that they entered the U.S. without documents.
It is important to remember that these interviews are with law enforcement officers. Lawyers can and should be present during these meetings. The government will not provide immigrants with lawyers during these interviews.
The latest memo marks an escalation of the immigration crackdown after the attack in Washington, D.C.
3. USCIS Is Cancelling Interviews Across the Country
Local USCIS offices began cancelling:
- Marriage-based green card interviews
- Employment-based adjustment interviews
- Naturalization interviews
- Green card replacement/renewal appointments
At this time it is unknown when these interviews will be rescheduled or what kind of additional evidence and screening will be required.
A New, Much Tougher Vetting Process
A new vetting process, expected to be rolled out by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and USCIS, is likely to include:
- Mandatory interviews (no waivers allowed)
- Possible re-interviews for previously approved cases
- Deep background and security checks
- Identity verification audits
- Terrorist Screening Dataset (TSDS) checks
- Case-by-case reviews for potential national-security or public-safety concerns
There is currently no published timeline for how long this new vetting phase will last.
Impact on Immigrants in Removal Proceedings
For people in removal proceedings applying for adjustment of status — especially from the 19 countries — the new guidance is causing:
- Much stricter scrutiny
- Case complications
- Longer waits
- Uncertainty for those awaiting USCIS decisions tied to their court proceedings
Immigration judges do not yet have formal direction on how to handle USCIS-paused benefits.
Talk of a New Travel Ban & Potential Expansion to More Countries
Officials warn that:
- More countries may be added to the list
- A new travel ban is being discussed
- The restrictions may expand before they ease
Anyone from the impacted countries — or anyone with pending asylum — should use extreme caution when making travel plans. It is recommended that you do not travel outside of the country in case immigration authorities interpret that as possibly abandoning your application process. It is encouraged that you speak to an experienced attorney if you need further guidance.
What Should Immigrants Do Now?
- Expect delays.
- Avoid international travel if you have pending asylum or are from one of the high-risk countries.
- Prepare for stricter evidence requirements once interviews resume.
- Speak with an attorney before filing new applications or making travel plans.
- Monitor updates carefully, as this policy environment is changing rapidly.
If you or a family member need information regarding a specific case or the assistance of experienced attorneys fighting for people like you every day, call our 24-7 English-Spanish line at 248-951-2450 or reach out to us at Atiya Law