U.S. Suspends All Immigration Processing From 19 Nations After Guard Shooting

In a dramatic policy shift following a violent shooting near the White House, the U.S. government has suspended all immigration-related applications from 19 countries — including green-card requests, asylum petitions, and naturalisation applications.

The directive, issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), affects immigrants and visa seekers from nations previously listed under the travel ban announced in June. Under the new policy, every application — whether pending or previously approved — will undergo a full re-review, which may include additional interviews or re-interviews to assess security risks.

The move follows the fatal shooting of a guard member and serious injury of another in Washington, D.C., allegedly committed by a suspect who entered the country under an Afghan resettlement program.

Affected countries cover a broad range, from Afghanistan, Somalia, Iran and Libya to Myanmar, Cuba, Congo and several others that had been under previous travel-restriction orders.

Although the administration says the measure is necessary to protect U.S. citizens and national security, critics warn it effectively penalizes large immigrant populations — including long-term residents — by rolling back lawful immigration benefits and casting doubt on previously granted statuses. The suspension came without a clear timeline for resuming application reviews.

For many awaiting legal status, the policy brings uncertainty and delays, while the broader immigration debate in the U.S. heats up amid domestic security concerns and political pressure.