Heightened scrutiny for Immigration Applications from 19 Nations Amidst Security Concerns
The U.S. government is implementing stricter vetting procedures for immigration applications originating from 19 countries, citing national security and public safety concerns. This move, initiated by a Presidential order and further detailed in a recent USCIS memo, represents a significant shift in immigration policy. You may be impacted if you’ve applied from, or hold residency from, one of these nations.
Which Countries Are Affected?
The initial list, stemming from a previous executive order signed during a prior administration, includes:
* Afghanistan
* Haiti
* Iran
* Somalia
* Venezuela
Additionally, the following countries have been added to the list requiring enhanced review:
* Burundi
* Chad
* Cuba
* Equatorial Guinea
* Eritrea
* Laos
* Libya
* Myanmar
* Republic of Congo
* Sierra Leone
* Sudan
* Togo
* Turkmenistan
* Yemen
What Does This Mean for Applicants?
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) now requires a extensive re-review of all pending applications from individuals originating from these 19 countries. This includes potential interviews, and even re-interviews, to thoroughly assess any potential national security or public safety risks.
The agency acknowledges this will cause delays, but emphasizes the necessity of maximizing vetting procedures given current threats. As USCIS Director Joseph Edlow stated last week, a “full scale” review of all green card holders from these nations is already underway.
The Catalyst: Recent Security Incident
This heightened scrutiny follows a recent ambush-style attack near the White house that tragically resulted in the death of a national guard member and critical injuries to another. Officials cite this incident as a key factor driving the decision to re-evaluate applications from these specific countries.
Broader restrictions Under Consideration
The administration is also exploring even more expansive measures.Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has recommended widening the restrictions to include additional countries, citing concerns about criminal activity linked to foreign nationals. President Trump has also publicly stated his intention to “permanently pause migration from all Third World Countries,” tho the specific countries targeted by this broader pause remain undefined.
Potential Impacts & Ongoing Developments
Here’s a breakdown of what you need to know:
* Submission Delays: Expect significant delays in processing your application if you are from one of the listed countries.
* Increased Scrutiny: Be prepared for more thorough interviews and requests for documentation.
* Citizenship Review: The administration is even considering revoking the citizenship of some naturalized Americans, a move that raises complex legal questions.
* State Resistance: Some states are resisting demands for immigration data related to benefit programs like SNAP, possibly putting those benefits at risk.
* Targeted enforcement: Increased ICE activity is anticipated in cities with large populations from affected countries, such as Minneapolis and its Somali community.
Staying Informed
This is a rapidly evolving situation. We will continue to monitor developments and provide updates as they become available. You can find more information from these sources:
* Presidential Order: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/06/restricting-the-entry-of-foreign-nationals-to-protect-the-united-states-from-foreign-terrorists-and-other-national-security-and-public-safety-threats/
* USCIS Memo: [https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/policy-alerts/PM-602-0192-PendingApplicationsHighRiskCountries-20251202.pdf](https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/policy-alerts/PM-602-01
