In a policy memorandum dated December 2 and revealed publicly on December 9, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services ordered officials to place an immediate hold on every pending immigration benefit request—ranging from green-card adjustments to work-permit renewals—filed by nationals of 19 countries listed in Presidential Proclamation 10949. The same memo instructs officers to re-review even previously approved cases dating back to January 2021 and to pause adjudication of every asylum application in the pipeline from those countries.
The affected nationalities include Afghanistan, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Venezuela and 14 others deemed ‘high-risk.’ Employers must now anticipate months-long delays in EAD renewals, H-1B extensions and I-485 adjustment cases for impacted staff. Immigration attorneys report that some naturalization oath ceremonies were cancelled at the last minute this week as files were returned for secondary security checks.
![USCIS Freezes All Immigration Filings from 19 ‘Travel-Ban’ Countries Pending National-Security Re-Review]()
USCIS defends the sweeping action as essential to protect public safety after a Thanksgiving-week shooting in Washington, D.C., allegedly involving an Afghan parolee. Critics, however, say the one-size-fits-all hold violates due-process rights and will exacerbate labour shortages in sectors that rely on talent from Africa, the Middle East and parts of Asia.
Practical steps for employers include auditing HRIS systems to flag employees from the 19 countries, building in extra lead time for work-authorization renewals, and preparing contingency plans for travel or assignment changes. Individuals with urgent travel needs may request expedite review, but approval is expected to be rare.
The affected nationalities include Afghanistan, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Venezuela and 14 others deemed ‘high-risk.’ Employers must now anticipate months-long delays in EAD renewals, H-1B extensions and I-485 adjustment cases for impacted staff. Immigration attorneys report that some naturalization oath ceremonies were cancelled at the last minute this week as files were returned for secondary security checks.
USCIS defends the sweeping action as essential to protect public safety after a Thanksgiving-week shooting in Washington, D.C., allegedly involving an Afghan parolee. Critics, however, say the one-size-fits-all hold violates due-process rights and will exacerbate labour shortages in sectors that rely on talent from Africa, the Middle East and parts of Asia.
Practical steps for employers include auditing HRIS systems to flag employees from the 19 countries, building in extra lead time for work-authorization renewals, and preparing contingency plans for travel or assignment changes. Individuals with urgent travel needs may request expedite review, but approval is expected to be rare.
