In the wake of the tragic Thanksgiving shooting near the White House that killed two National Guard members, the Trump Administration announced sweeping immigration actions. USCIS has now released internal policy memos that shed light on who is impacted and how these changes will be applied across the immigration system.
While many operational details remain unclear, the memos offer an early roadmap of what applicants can expect. Because these changes affect different immigrant groups in different ways, we are breaking down each category to help you understand how your case may be
impacted.
1. Complete Freeze on Immigration Benefit Processing for Nationals of the 19 Travel-Ban Countries
Who is affected:
Anyone who is a citizen or national [or even was born] of one of the 19 countries included in the administration’s most recent travel-ban list.
- Being associated with the travel-ban country is currently triggering cancellation of USCIS interviews.
What is happening:
USCIS officers have been directed to halt all processing of immigration benefits for these individuals. This pause applies to every stage and type of immigration filing, including:
- Green card applications
- Citizenship applications
- Work permit applications
- Changes or extensions of nonimmigrant status
Applicants across the country are reporting canceled interviews, canceled oath ceremonies, and the complete suspension of their pending cases. For people who need timely extensions to maintain lawful nonimmigrant status, this freeze may cause them to fall out of status through no fault of their own.
How long it will last:
The timeline is unknown. The memo mandates a 90-day period for creating operational guidance, but does not guarantee that the freeze will end at that point. It may be modified, extended, or replaced with new restrictions.
Importantly, once USCIS resumes processing, adjudicators will apply new, more restrictive criteria. A policy manual update issued on Thanksgiving designates nationality from travel-ban countries as a “significant negative factor” in adjudicating discretionary applications. The government claims it cannot rely on identity-verification systems in countries like Afghanistan, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Turkmenistan, Yemen and Venezuela, and will therefore scrutinize applicants from these countries more harshly. This standard applies to forms received on or after November 27.
2. Pause on Decisions for All Affirmative Asylum Cases (Except Those Already Frozen Under the Travel Ban).
Who is affected:
- Issuance of a decision (approval or denial) on any asylum applicant who filed an affirmative asylum application with USCIS and is not from a travel-ban country.
- But, USCIS Interviews and EAD processing are still taking place.
What is happening:
USCIS has stopped issuing final decisions on asylum cases. Adjudicators may still conduct interviews, but no approvals, denials, or closures will be issued until further guidance is released.
How long will it last:
Still unknown. This pause was included in the same memo referencing the forthcoming 90-day policy development period.
Impact size:
Even before this pause, asylum decision-making was extremely slow. Over 1.5 million cases were pending at USCIS as of June, and only a fraction were being approved or denied. This new halt will extend wait times even further for those seeking protection.
3. Blanket Visa Refusals for Afghan Nationals and Destruction of Already-Printed Visas
Who is affected:
All Afghan nationals applying for temporary or permanent visas at U.S. embassies or consulates.
What is happening:
Consular officers have been instructed to refuse all Afghan visa applications under INA 221(g) and to destroy any printed visas that have not yet been issued to the applicants.
How long it will last:
Unclear.
Impact size:
Even before these instructions, Afghanistan was already included in the travel ban, so visa issuances were deeply restricted. Most issued visas were Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) for individuals who assisted U.S. forces, and these applicants had already undergone years of stringent vetting. This new blanket refusal essentially shuts down legal pathways for Afghans for the foreseeable future.
4. Re-Review—and Possible Re-Interviews—of Cases Already Approved Under the Biden Administration
Who is affected:
Two overlapping groups:
- All refugees admitted to the U.S. under the Biden administration (about 200,000 individuals).
- All nationals of travel-ban countries who entered the U.S. after January 21, 2021 and were granted any immigration benefit (green cards, asylum, work permits, student visas, etc.).
What is happening:
USCIS is launching a broad security review of approved cases.
For nationals of banned countries, USCIS will examine specific indicators such as potential associations with suspicious persons or groups. Officers must identify priority cases for possible re-interviews within 90 days.
For refugees, the review is far wider. The administration claims the prior government approved applicants “too quickly” and is ordering a fresh assessment of whether each case meets refugee standards. Officers will also identify priority cases for re-interviews within 90 days.
The memos do not specify what consequences applicants may face if USCIS determines they should not have been approved. Loss of status is possible.
How long it will last:
Unknown. Further instructions are expected within 90 days.
Impact size:
Potentially enormous. Over 200,000 refugees and more than 300,000 green-card holders from travel-ban countries (from 2021–2023 alone) may face reopening of their cases. The review may also affect those who received other benefits such as asylum, student visas, work visas, status extensions, and work permits—including many who supported U.S. military operations abroad.
What This Means for Immigrants Today
These changes represent a significant shift in immigration enforcement and adjudication. They introduce uncertainty for applicants at all stages of the process and create new risks for individuals who believed their cases had already been resolved.
Many people from the affected countries now face:
- Frozen cases with no timeline
- Possible loss of lawful status
- Heightened discretionary scrutiny
- Reopened or re-interviewed applications
- Loss of visas or benefits previously granted
Anyone from a travel-ban country, Afghan nationals, asylum seekers, and refugees admitted since 2021 should seek legal guidance immediately to understand how these policies may affect them.
Need Guidance?
Shepelsky Law Group is monitoring these developments closely and is here to help you understand your rights, protect your status, and plan your next step during this rapidly changing period.
To schedule a consultation, call 718-769-6352 or schedule your consultation with our team directly at: https://shepelskylaw.cliogrow.com/book