US Implements Sweeping Immigration Restrictions, Halting Afghan Processing and Reviewing Green Cards from 19 Nations

New Immigration Policies Announced

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has initiated a comprehensive review of green cards issued to individuals from 19 'countries of concern,' while the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has indefinitely halted the processing of all Afghan-related immigration requests. These significant policy changes, which took effect immediately on November 27, 2025, were announced in the wake of a shooting incident in Washington, D.C., involving an Afghan national.

The new directives extend beyond green card reviews, encompassing a pause on all immigration applications, including those for citizenship and asylum, for individuals from the designated countries. The State Department has also ceased issuing visas to Afghan nationals, with reports indicating that consular officials have been instructed to refuse all such visas, even those already printed.

Scope of the Review and Affected Countries

USCIS Director Joe Edlow confirmed that the agency will re-examine all permanent resident cards granted to nationals of the 19 countries identified in a June 2025 Presidential Proclamation. This proclamation, issued by President Donald Trump, aimed to restrict the entry of foreign nationals to protect the United States from perceived national security threats.

The 19 'countries of concern' subject to these heightened restrictions include:

• Afghanistan
• Burma (Myanmar)
• Burundi
• Chad
• Republic of the Congo
• Cuba
• Equatorial Guinea
• Eritrea
• Haiti
• Iran
• Laos
• Libya
• Sierra Leone
• Somalia
• Sudan
• Togo
• Turkmenistan
• Venezuela
• Yemen

Additionally, DHS is reviewing asylum approvals granted under the previous Biden Administration, and USCIS has halted all asylum decisions, regardless of the applicant's nationality, pending a comprehensive review of vetting protocols.

Official Justification and Broader Context

USCIS Director Edlow stated that the review would evaluate 'negative, country-specific factors,' including the credibility and reliability of identity documents produced by these nations. He emphasized that 'The protection and safety of our homeland and of the American people remains our singular focus and mission.'

President Trump has characterized these policies as part of a broader initiative to 'permanently pause migration from all Third World Countries,' revoke federal benefits for noncitizens, and increase denaturalization actions against individuals deemed security risks. The immediate implementation of these changes underscores the administration's urgency in reshaping immigration policy.

Implications and Concerns

The new measures are expected to have far-reaching consequences, with critics warning of potential mass delays, denials, and revocations of legal status for thousands of residents and applicants. Employers with foreign staff from the affected regions have been advised to closely monitor the immigration status of their employees due to potential prolonged uncertainty and compliance challenges.

Advocates for Afghan immigrants have expressed significant concern, highlighting that the actions of an individual should not reflect upon the entire community. They anticipate that thousands of Afghans currently navigating the U.S. immigration system will be impacted, facing indefinite holds on their cases. Furthermore, work permits issued to asylum seekers after December 4, 2025, will now be valid for 18 months instead of the previous five years.