Trump Administration Suspends Citizenship Ceremonies for Nationals of 19 High-Risk Countries

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As of late December 2025, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has implemented a significant pause on naturalization processes—including oath ceremonies—for lawful permanent residents (green card holders) born in 19 countries designated as “high-risk” or “of concern” by the Trump administration: Afghanistan, Burma (Myanmar), Burundi, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Cuba, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Laos, Libya, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Togo, Turkmenistan, Venezuela, and Yemen. This policy, initiated in early December, has led to abrupt cancellations of citizenship ceremonies across the U.S., leaving thousands of approved applicants in limbo just steps away from becoming American citizens.

Background and Trigger

The measures stem from a Department of Homeland Security directive issued around December 2, 2025, following a shooting incident in Washington, D.C., where an Afghan national was charged with attacking two National Guard members. The administration cited enhanced national security vetting as the rationale, pausing all immigration benefit adjudications (including approvals, denials, and oath ceremonies) for individuals from these countries to allow for “comprehensive re-examination.”

Affected countries include Afghanistan, Burma (Myanmar), Burundi, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Cuba, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Laos, Libya, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Togo, Turkmenistan, Venezuela, and Yemen—many overlapping with prior travel ban lists.

Impact on Applicants and Ceremonies

• Last-Minute Cancellations: Reports from Boston’s historic Faneuil Hall, Chicago, San Diego, and other locations describe immigrants arriving for scheduled oath ceremonies only to be turned away or “plucked out of line” based on their country of origin. In some cases, USCIS officers asked attendees about their birthplace before denying entry.
• Scope: Nonprofits like Project Citizenship in Massachusetts reported over 20 clients affected in early December alone. Similar disruptions occurred nationwide, with naturalization interviews and adjustments of status also halted.
• Emotional Toll: Applicants who have completed years of paperwork, interviews, civics tests, and background checks—often waiting decades as green card holders—face indefinite delays. Advocates describe the actions as causing “devastation,” “fear,” and “unspeakable cruelty.”

The naturalization ceremony is the final mandatory step, where approved applicants take the Oath of Allegiance. In fiscal year 2024, over 818,000 people naturalized; this pause disrupts that pipeline for a subset based solely on nationality.

Broader Immigration Context

This pause aligns with other Trump administration actions in late 2025, including:

• Reinstating stricter civics tests and enhanced social media vetting.
• Reviewing green cards and benefits granted under prior administrations.
• Proposals to expand denaturalization and challenge birthright citizenship (separate ongoing legal battles).

USCIS and DHS emphasize that the hold prioritizes “public safety” and “maximum vetting,” with no fixed end date announced.

Implications for Travelers and Visa Holders

For international travelers, visa applicants, and those planning U.S. visits or immigration:

• Visa Processing Delays: Expect heightened scrutiny and potential pauses for nationals of affected countries applying for tourist, student, work, or immigrant visas.
• Travel Warnings: Consular officers may deny B visas or other entries if linked to perceived risks.
• Advice: Consult immigration attorneys early; monitor USCIS alerts. Approved naturalization applicants from non-affected countries continue as normal.

Critics, including Democratic lawmakers (e.g., Reps. Pramila Jayapal and Lizzie Fletcher) and Sen. Edward Markey, have demanded transparency and introduced legislation to protect approved applicants from nationality-based exclusions. Legal challenges are likely.

This development underscores a tightening of legal immigration pathways under the current administration, affecting not just undocumented individuals but vetted permanent residents on the cusp of citizenship.