The United States Department of Homeland Security has directed an immediate halt and extensive re-evaluation of all pending asylum applications and immigration benefit requests involving nationals from countries designated as high-risk under a presidential proclamation issued earlier this year.
The directive, released through a formal policy memorandum signed by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), marks one of the most sweeping immigration reviews undertaken in recent years and signals a major shift in the administration’s approach to national security and migration controls.
The memorandum, titled “Hold and Review of all Pending Asylum Applications and all USCIS Benefit Applications Filed by Aliens from High-Risk Countries,” instructed USCIS officers to immediately place a hold on all Form I-589 asylum applications.
The suspension applies to every applicant regardless of nationality, pending what the agency described as a “comprehensive review” of asylum processing procedures.
Additionally, USCIS has ordered a freeze on all pending immigration benefit requests filed by individuals from the 19 countries listed in Presidential Proclamation 10949, signed by President Trump on June 4, 2025. The proclamation imposed entry restrictions on foreign nationals deemed to present terrorism-related or public safety risks to the United States.
The countries impacted include: Afghanistan, Venezuela, Cuba, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Burundi, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, and Turkmenistan
Re-Examination of Previously Approved Immigration Benefits Granted
The new directive went beyond halting pending cases. It also mandated USCIS to re-examine previously approved immigration benefits granted to individuals from these high-risk countries who entered the United States on or after January 20, 2021.
According to the document, the re-review must include a “potential interview” and, if deemed necessary, a full re-interview, ensuring that officers reassess any security, public safety, or admissibility concerns that may not have been fully evaluated at the time of the original adjudication.
“This memorandum mandates that all aliens meeting these criteria undergo a thorough re-review process,” the statement read. USCIS officers are required to conduct “an individualized, case-by-case review and assessment” of all relevant facts, records, and national security indicators before a case can proceed.
The agency will also undertake a broader examination of internal policies connected to asylum and benefit adjudications, signaling that further policy adjustments may follow.
Presidential Proclamation 10949 as the Basis
Presidential Proclamation 10949 serves as the legal foundation for the agency’s latest move. Issued under Section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, the proclamation provides the President with broad authority to suspend or restrict the entry of individuals considered detrimental to U.S. interests.
While the text of the proclamation has not been fully detailed in the memorandum, it cited 19 countries categorized as presenting heightened risks of terrorism or public safety threats. The directive applies to individuals identifying any of these countries as their place of birth or citizenship.
The policy memorandum clarified that the hold on “benefit requests” does not include USCIS screening activities tied to removal proceedings, such as credible fear and reasonable fear interviews, safe third country screenings, or asylum cooperative agreement screenings.
However, it applies to a wide range of benefit forms, including applications for adjustment of status, replacement of permanent resident cards, removal of conditions on residence, preservation of residence for naturalization, and requests for travel documents.
The directive emphasized that interviews for individuals falling under this category “shall not be waived under any circumstance,” and that even applications not typically requiring interviews may now be subject to in-person evaluation.
The decision follows months of increased scrutiny of immigration processes under the Trump administration, which has made national security the cornerstone of its immigration policy.
Federal officials, including President Trump, have repeatedly cited shifting global security dynamics, concerns about fraudulent applications, and the need for stronger vetting systems as justification for tightening review mechanisms. According to the memorandum, the hold will remain in effect while USCIS completes its broad policy evaluations.
Resultant Effect of the Directive
The directive is likely to cause significant delays for thousands of applicants, many of whom have been awaiting decisions for months or years. Asylum applicants, in particular, are expected to face longer processing times as the comprehensive review pauses all movement of cases currently in the pipeline.
The policy may leave vulnerable applicants in prolonged uncertainty, though the memorandum does not indicate whether DHS intends to introduce interim protections or alternative procedures for those affected.
Still, administration officials argue that the policy represents a necessary step in strengthening national security. Citing statutory provisions under 212(a) and 237(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, USCIS stressed the importance of examining any potential ties to terrorism, espionage, or activities deemed harmful to the United States.
The memorandum described the re-review as a safeguard to ensure that previously granted benefits were correctly adjudicated under current security standards.
As the agency begins implementing the directive, USCIS has not provided a timeline for completing the review or for resuming normal processing of asylum and benefit applications.
The memorandum directs staff to undertake the effort immediately but leaves open how long the broad re-evaluation will take, raising concerns among immigration lawyers about prolonged backlogs across the system.
The policy marks a decisive moment in the administration’s national security agenda and is expected to shape the broader immigration landscape in the months ahead.
READ ALSO: Ghana Offers Free Visas for Diaspora Summit 2025 Participants
