In a sweeping and unprecedented move, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has issued a directive mandating a complete halt on the processing of all asylum applications, marking what is being described as the most aggressive operational freeze in decades. The decision affects all applicants, across all nationalities, under Form I-589, and takes effect immediately.
According to the internal memo, the pause applies universally and is not limited to applicants from traditionally high-risk regions. As a result, asylum seekers from every country will face significant delays as USCIS suspends adjudications until further notice.
In addition to the blanket halt on asylum cases, the directive extends to a range of immigration benefits connected to 19 specific countries. These include green card applications (Form I-485), removal of conditions on permanent residence (Form I-751), green card replacements (Form I-90), travel documents (Form I-131), and applications related to naturalisation (Form N-470). Processing of these benefit categories has also been paused for affected nationals.
A major procedural shift outlined in the memo is the introduction of mandatory interviews for all asylum applicants without exception. Previously eligible interview waivers will no longer be granted, significantly increasing scrutiny at the individual level and potentially worsening existing backlogs.
More notably, the directive authorises re-examination of previously approved cases. Individuals from the listed countries who entered the United States after January 20, 2021, may be subjected to fresh security reviews—even if they already possess permanent resident status, employment authorisation documents (EADs), travel permits, or have successfully completed earlier interviews. The memo further indicates that the review window could be expanded to include individuals who entered before 2021.
Immigration analysts say this move represents a dramatic shift in operational posture, with wide-ranging implications for thousands of families, workers, and asylum seekers currently in the system. The directive signals a tightening of national security vetting at a scale not seen in recent years.
While the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has not publicly detailed the duration of the freeze, officials have hinted that further expansions of the policy remain under consideration. The development underscores a broader recalibration of U.S. immigration enforcement and screening mechanisms under heightened security protocols.
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