Full List: Trump Halts Immigration Applications From 19 Countries, Eyes Wider Global Travel Ban

The US government has suspended all immigration applications from 19 countries and paused citizenship ceremonies nationwide as federal agencies initiate an extensive security review. Officials say the move is part of a broader reassessment of vetting standards and comes as the administration considers expanding the travel ban to more than 30 nations.

The New York Times reports that the freeze could affect more than 1.5 million people with pending asylum claims, along with over 50,000 individuals who were granted asylum under the previous administration. The New York Post notes that discussions are underway to enlarge the travel ban, potentially reshaping the landscape for international travel and migration.

The decision follows an incident in Washington, D.C., where Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal was arrested after allegedly killing one National Guard member and wounding another. Officials referenced the case in internal documents as they argued for stricter reviews.

The halt covers applicants from Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. Additional restrictions apply to individuals from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela. Under the freeze, all immigration-related actions involving these countries—including completion of citizenship ceremonies for lawful permanent residents—are suspended, according to CBS News.

A spokesperson for US Citizenship and Immigration Services said the administration intends to apply rigorous standards to all individuals advancing toward citizenship, adding that the agency will take no risks concerning national security.

A Department of Homeland Security memo obtained by the Washington Post states that anyone seeking to migrate from the listed countries must undergo a fresh round of security checks. The directive requires a full re-review, with interviews or re-interviews when deemed necessary, and grants DHS broad authority to block applicants determined to be inadmissible or otherwise ineligible.