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The U.S. has paused all pending immigration applications—including green cards and asylum—from 19 “countries of concern.”
The move follows a shooting near the White House in which two National Guard members were attacked. One, Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, died; the other, Andrew Wolfe, remains in critical condition. The suspect, who entered the U.S. from Afghanistan in 2021, has been charged with murder.
Applications from nationals of Afghanistan, Burma (Myanmar), Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela are affected and some naturalization ceremonies for individuals from these countries have already been canceled.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) emphasized that “citizenship is a privilege, not a right,” and said the Trump Administration is reviewing immigration benefits previously granted under the Biden Administration.
The pause will remain until USCIS issues new guidance on additional vetting procedures.