WASHINGTON (Chatnewstv.com) — The United States has immediately halted all final immigration decisions and naturalization ceremonies for applicants from 19 countries already on President Donald Trump’s travel ban list, according to an internal government memo.
Immigration officers were ordered to stop all final processing decisions immediately. The directive also indefinitely pauses naturalization ceremonies for migrants who were days away from becoming U.S. citizens, a final step in a process that often takes up to five years.
The sweeping restrictions follow last week’s fatal shooting in Washington, D.C., that killed National Guard member Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and left Andrew Wolfe, 24, in critical condition. The suspect was an Afghan national who had entered the U.S. under a special program for Afghans who worked with American forces before the Taliban’s return.
The move comes as the Trump administration intensifies its crackdown and considers expanding the current travel-ban list from 19 countries to about 30. Last week, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, or USCIS, stopped all asylum decisions and began reassessing previously issued green cards for nationals from the 19 affected nations.
Internal Order Stops All Oaths
The internal memo, leaves no ambiguity on the freeze.
“This hold includes all form types and making any final decisions (approvals, denials) as well as completing any oath ceremonies,” the memo states.
USCIS spokesperson Matthew Tragesser confirmed the freeze to The New York Times, saying the government wants to ensure that only “the best of the best” become citizens.
“Citizenship is a privilege, not a right,” Tragesser added.
Immigration lawyers told ABC News that several clients had their citizenship ceremonies canceled this week. The affected migrants include nationals from Venezuela, Iran and Afghanistan, nations that are either partially or fully restricted under the current ban. Naturalization ceremonies are usually a festive event where applicants wave small American flags as they swear the oath of allegiance.
The White House has increasingly framed migrants and refugees as contributors to “social dysfunction,” echoing Trump’s recent rhetoric. The current list, imposed on June 4, primarily includes African, Middle Eastern and Caribbean countries.
The new freeze marks one of the most comprehensive immigration actions since Trump returned to office, signaling that more restrictions are likely ahead as officials say the expanded list could push the number of restricted countries close to 30.
