Chicago – January 04, 2026
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has suspended processing of all pending immigration applications from an additional 20 countries, primarily in Africa, following expanded travel restrictions effective January 1, 2026.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a memo on January 2 halting reviews for visas, green cards, citizenship, and asylum from nations including Angola, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. The policy also mandates reassessment of applications dating back to 2021 from these high-risk countries with elevated overstay rates and fraud concerns.
This move builds on last month’s expansion of the travel ban list from 19 to 39 countries, plus the Palestinian Authority, under President Trump’s administration. USCIS justified the pause to protect national security and public safety, stating it upholds immigration law by stopping inflows from problematic nations. Exceptions apply for athletes in events like the World Cup and Olympics.
The decision follows late 2025 actions, including refugee status reviews from the prior administration and an indefinite asylum processing halt amid backlogs. It was spurred by incidents like the arrest of an Afghan national linked to a National Guard shooting.
