USCIS Announces Additional National Security Measures Following November 26, 2025 Incident

 

In response to the November 26, 2025 shooting of two National Guard service members in Washington, D.C., allegedly by an Afghan national, USCIS has announced new “Additional National Security Measures” that will immediately affect many applicants and petitioners. USCIS states these measures are intended to strengthen screening and vetting based on recent public-safety concerns.

Key USCIS Actions Announced

Based on USCIS’s announcement, the agency will implement the following steps:

  1. Pause on all pending asylum matters. USCIS has indicated it will place a hold on pending asylum matters while it conducts a comprehensive review and applies enhanced screening protocols.

  2. Pause on immigration benefit processing for individuals from 19 designated “high-risk” countries referenced in Presidential Proclamation 10949 (June 4, 2025).

  3. Re-review of certain previously approved cases. USCIS further announced it may re-review previously approved immigration benefit applications for individuals from the 19 designated countries who entered the United States on or after January 20, 2021, and that this review could include interviews or re-interviews.

A copy of the agency’s policy memo/announcement is available here.

The 19 Designated Countries (Proclamation 10949)

  • Afghanistan

  • Burundi

  • Chad

  • Cuba

  • Equatorial Guinea

  • Eritrea

  • Haiti

  • Iran

  • Laos

  • Libya

  • Myanmar

  • Republic of the Congo

  • Sierra Leone

  • Somalia

  • Sudan

  • Togo

  • Turkmenistan

  • Venezuela

  • Yemen

Discretionary Adjudications: Country-Specific Factors

USCIS also indicated that, as part of this initiative, officers may consider country-specific concerns (including limitations in screening/vetting information) when adjudicating discretionary applications filed by individuals from the designated countries. USCIS

Early Reports: Appointment Disruptions

In the immediate aftermath of the announcement yesterday, immigration attorneys and news outlets reported cancellations of naturalization interviews and oath ceremonies affecting nationals from the designated countries.

What’s Next

These measures appear to be evolving, and additional operational guidance is expected as USCIS implements them across service centers and field offices. We will continue to monitor developments closely and will share updates as more details become available.

This alert is for informational purposes only. Please contact us if you would like to discuss this development further.

 
Nadia Yakoob