The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has suspended the review of immigration applications from 19 countries. This was reported by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and the information was published by CBS News.

The countries affected include Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.

Those who have already submitted immigration applications will have to undergo additional screening. This includes repeat interviews so that immigration authorities can assess all potential threats to national security. The administration also plans to re-examine immigration benefits that were previously granted.

The Trump administration made this decision after an armed attack on National Guard members in Washington, D.C., which occurred on November 26. One guardsman was killed and another was seriously injured. According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the shooter was an Afghan national who was among those admitted to the U.S. in large numbers in 2021 without proper vetting. These are Afghans who arrived in the U.S. under a special program after the Taliban came to power in Afghanistan.

According to Reuters, the man who attacked the guardsmen applied for asylum in the U.S. in December 2024, and his application was approved in April 2025.