The Donald Trump administration has ordered an immediate halt to immigration applications from nationals of 19 countries already subject to United States travel bans or restrictions, according to a memo issued on Tuesday by US Citizenship and Immigration Services, NBC reported.
The four-page directive states that the pause, which applies to both green card and citizenship applications, is intended to allow for heightened security screenings.
“USCIS has considered that this direction may result in a delay to the adjudication of some pending applications.
“Ultimately, USCIS has determined that the burden of processing delays that will fall on some applicants is necessary and appropriate in this instance, when weighed against the agency’s obligation to protect and preserve national security,” the agency wrote.
The New York Times first reported the immigration pause, which applies to both green card and citizenship applicants.
The decision affects applicants from countries including Afghanistan, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen — nations already under full or partial entry bans signed by President Trump in June. Additional restrictions apply to nationals from seven other countries, among them Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone and Venezuela.
The move comes just days after two National Guard members were shot while on patrol in Washington, DC, an attack that left one soldier dead and another critically wounded.
