USCIS Suspends Green-Card Processing for 19 Nations After DC Shooting: Major Immigration Shake-up Underway

USCIS Suspends Green-Card Processing for 19 Nations: In the wake of the Washington, D.C. National Guard shooting, USCIS has ordered a sweeping review and paused Green Card and immigration applications from 19 high-risk nations. Experts warn of broad impacts on refugees and migrants — a major U.S. policy shift.

In a dramatic turn of events following the fatal shooting of a member of the United States National Guard near the White House, U.S. immigration policy has been abruptly tightened. On 27–28 November 2025, the Donald J. Trump administration ordered the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to suspend the processing of new immigration and Green-Card applications for certain nationals, and to re-examine existing status grants for immigrants from 19 countries flagged as “of concern.”

USCIS Suspends Green-Card Processing for 19 Nations: Why the Freeze — What Happened

The crackdown was triggered by a shooting near Washington, D.C., in which two National Guard servicemen were ambushed. The suspect, identified as a 29-year-old Afghan national, allegedly committed the act. One of the soldiers died, prompting a wave of security concerns and political reactions.

Reacting sharply to the incident, the Trump administration described the attack as a potential act of terror and moved quickly to tighten immigration and residency protocols. Within hours, USCIS put all immigration requests from Afghan nationals — and subsequently from citizens of 18 additional “high-risk” countries — on indefinite hold.

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What the New Policy Involves

Under the updated guidance, USCIS is conducting a “full-scale, rigorous re-examination” of every Green Card issued to aliens from the flagged countries.

Pending applications — including family-based petitions, employment-based visas, special immigrant visas (SIVs), asylum adjustments, and more — are either suspended or undergoing enhanced vetting.

The list of affected countries includes Afghanistan, Somalia, Yemen, Libya, Iran, Eritrea, Congo (Republic of), Eritrea, Haiti, and several others that U.S. authorities say pose higher security, overstay, or documentation-cooperation risks.

USCIS Director Joseph Edlow stated the move was necessary to protect “the American people” and to address what the administration described as lax vetting under previous immigration waves.

USCIS Suspends Green-Card Processing for 19 Nations: Immediate Fallout & Human Impact

The freeze and re-review order has sent shockwaves across immigrant and refugee communities worldwide. Thousands of applicants — many already in limbo for months or years — now face indefinite delays. For asylum seekers and refugees, the move has intensified fears that long-awaited resettlement may never materialize.

According to reports, Afghan nationals who had applied for resettlement under past humanitarian programmes are among the worst affected. The sudden suspension of visa processing has left many stranded, with some — who risk persecution or death upon return — now facing uncertainty and despair.

Immigration-rights groups have criticized the decision as sweeping and punitive, arguing that it unfairly penalizes thousands for the actions of a single individual. The broad brush of the policy is raising serious humanitarian and legal concerns.

Political, Legal, and Global Repercussions

The freeze marks a significant escalation in the administration’s crackdown on immigration. It adds to measures already instituted earlier in 2025 under executive orders restricting entry and tightening asylum and refugee admissions.

Critics warn the move could strain diplomatic relations with countries whose citizens are affected, and fuel broader international concerns about human rights, refugee protection, and due process. On the domestic front, the policy is likely to spark legal challenges, particularly from refugee advocacy groups and civil liberties organizations.

Supporters of the crackdown, by contrast, argue the measure is necessary to ensure public safety and restore control over immigration following what they characterize as reckless resettlement policies in previous years.

USCIS Suspends Green-Card Processing for 19 Nations: What to Watch Next

USCIS and other federal agencies have not provided a strict timeline for when the review will conclude or when suspended applications might resume. For many applicants, this means waiting indefinitely.

Legal experts anticipate lawsuits challenging the fairness and constitutionality of the broad freeze and re-review policies. Meanwhile, the human cost — especially for refugees and asylum seekers fleeing conflict zones — could be severe if protections remain stalled.

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As the U.S. government moves forward with its sweeping immigration overhaul, the world watches closely. For millions who looked to America as a refuge, the message now is uncertain — and the stakes, high.