US Halts Immigration Cases from Turkmenistan and Afghanistan

The Trump administration has announced a pause on all immigration applications from 19 non-European states, a move that places new restrictions on countries already facing partial bans. The list again includes Afghanistan, while Turkmenistan has been added among the states subjected to tighter checks.

Officials said the suspension covers green card cases and citizenship processing, with applications from the affected states now frozen until further notice. Washington has framed the decision as a response to national security risks, citing the recent killing of a National Guard member in the US capital, for which an Afghan citizen has been arrested.

Afghanistan remains one of the countries placed under the strictest curbs since June, alongside states such as Somalia and Iran. Turkmenistan appears in the group that previously faced partial limits but will now see its citizens subjected to a full re-review of their pending applications.

The 19 countries affected are Afghanistan, Somalia, Burma, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Sudan, Yemen, Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela.

The directive requires immigration officers to reassess all cases filed by nationals from the listed states, with new interviews ordered where needed. The memorandum highlights recent crimes allegedly involving foreign nationals and argues that the review is essential to protect public safety.

The suspension has already led to cancelled oath ceremonies and delayed interviews, according to the American Immigration Lawyers Association. Lawyers say the move signals a shift towards reshaping legal migration rules rather than focusing solely on enforcement and deportation.

The administration has insisted the halt is temporary but has not given a clear timeline for when processing for Afghan or Turkmen applicants may resume.