Federal Government pauses all asylum applications and more in sweeping policy change
Policy Announcement
Following the Washington, D.C. shootings of two National Guard members, President Trump announced a series of sweeping immigration restrictions. These include the suspension of visa issuance to Afghan nationals, a halt to all asylum adjudications, a review of refugee green-card applications, and a reassessment of pending and approved permanent residence applications for individuals from 19 “countries of concern.” USCIS has also issued new guidance allowing officers to factor in the conditions of an applicant’s home country when deciding discretionary benefits. The President further stated his intention to permanently bar immigration from countries he labeled “third world,” though no list has yet been specified.
Scope of Policy
Visa Suspension for Afghans: The State Department ordered an immediate halt to visa issuance for Afghan passport holders, reinforcing the ongoing restrictions under the June 2025 travel ban.
Green Card Review for Nationals of 19 Countries: USCIS will reexamine pending and approved permanent residence applications for individuals from the countries covered by the 2025 travel ban, including Afghanistan, Iran, Somalia, Sudan, Venezuela, Yemen, and others.
Asylum System Freeze & Refugee Scrutiny: USCIS suspended all asylum adjudications and will investigate refugees admitted between January 20, 2021, and February 20, 2025—an estimated 233,000 individuals. Green card applications filed by these refugees are on hold.
Expanded Discretion for USCIS Officers: Officers may now consider country-specific factors—such as overstay rates or passport security—when adjudicating discretionary benefits including adjustment of status, changes/extensions of status, EADs, TPS, humanitarian parole, and refugee/asylum applications. This applies to all countries, not just the 19 listed.
Future Immigration Ban: The President signaled plans to suspend immigration from an undefined set of “third world” countries, potentially through new or expanded executive orders under INA §212(f).
Exceptions
Afghan nationals had previously been eligible for limited exceptions under the June 2025 travel ban, but the newly announced suspension appears to eliminate remaining pathways for visa issuance. No new exceptions were detailed for asylum seekers, refugees, or nationals of the 19 countries under review. Likewise, the new discretionary adjudication guidance has no stated country-based exemptions and applies universally to all applicants filing on or after November 27, 2025. Further exceptions may emerge once formal policies are released, but none have yet been specified.
Reactions and Implications
The announcements signal a dramatic tightening of U.S. immigration policy, with immediate operational impacts across visa processing, humanitarian programs, and employment-based pathways. Refugees and asylum seekers face significant delays and heightened scrutiny, while nationals of the 19 countries may see green-card reversals or prolonged reviews. The broadened discretionary authority for USCIS officers introduces substantial uncertainty for applicants from countries with high overstay rates or weak identity-document systems, potentially affecting eligibility for a wide range of benefits. Employers, immigrants, and legal practitioners are bracing for further directives as details remain limited and more changes are anticipated in the coming weeks.
