Chicago – December 05, 2025
The United States has suspended citizenship ceremonies and other immigration processes for migrants from 19 countries already subject to a federal travel ban, intensifying the Trump administration’s latest immigration crackdown.
Internal guidance from US Citizenship and Immigration Services orders officials to halt final decisions on all cases linked to these nations, including naturalisation for lawful permanent residents who had nearly completed the path to citizenship.
The pause follows a deadly shooting in Washington DC in which a National Guard member was killed and another critically injured, allegedly by an Afghan national who entered under a special protection programme. Officials say the freeze is part of a broader security review and could be expanded if the White House decides to add more countries to the existing list.
Immigration lawyers report that clients from countries such as Venezuela, Iran and Afghanistan have had citizenship interviews or oath ceremonies abruptly cancelled this week. Advocates warn that thousands of long-term residents may now see years of progress toward citizenship thrown into uncertainty, as the administration moves to reassess asylum decisions and previously granted green cards for those from the affected states.
