Immediate and Sweeping U.S. Immigration Changes Announced Following Attack on National Guard Members

In the wake of the shooting of two members of the National Guard in Washington DC on November 28, 2025, the Trump Administration has announced a number of significant changes to the processing of certain immigration cases and restrictions on immigration benefits.

Specifically, the Administration has announced the following:

• Immediate Suspension of Asylum Decisions. The Director of United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS), announced the suspension of all pending asylum decisions until they can ensure that every applicant is “vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible.” The duration of this suspension is currently indefinite, and formal guidance outlining the new vetting protocols has not yet been released.
• Indefinite Halt on Immigration Requests for Afghan Nationals. USCIS has indefinitely stopped the processing of a broad range of applications submitted by or on behalf of Afghan nationals, including, but not limited to, adjustment of status (Green Card) applications, parole requests, and other immigration benefits. The U.S. Department of State has also temporarily suspended visa issuance for all individuals traveling on Afghan passports. All Afghan nationals have also been barred from entering the U.S.
• Re-Examination of Green Cards from “Countries of Concern”. The USCIS Director has stated that the administration has ordered a “full-scale, rigorous re-examination” of every Green Card application submitted by or on behalf of every foreign national from “countries of concern.” In a Proclamation issued by President Trump in June 2025, the following 19 countries were designated as “countries of concern”: Afghanistan, Burma, Burundi, Chad, Republic of Congo, Cuba, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Laos, Libya, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Togo, Turkmenistan, Venezuela, and Yemen. Newly issued USCIS guidance allows for country-specific factors to be considered as a “significant negative factor” in immigration benefit applications for individuals from these 19 nations.
• Review of Biden-Era Refugee Admissions. The Administration has also indicated that they will review all refugee cases approved during the Biden administration, specifically targeting those who entered the U.S. between January 20, 2021, and February 20, 2025.

WHAT EMPLOYERS NEED TO KNOW

USCIS and the U.S. Department of State have not yet released formal policy guidance following on their pronouncements last week. However, given the immediate and broad nature of these policy changes, individuals and employers with pending or planned cases related to the affected categories and nationalities should be prepared for significant delays in the adjudication of asylum, Green Card, and other immigration benefit applications.

For additional information, please contact your designated Gibney representative or email info@gibney.com.

Amy McCoy