The Trump administration has halted all immigration applications. including green cards and US citizenship petitions, from immigrants originating in 19 non-European countries, citing heightened national security concerns.
The sweeping freeze, announced Tuesday (December 2, 2025), affects nations already facing partial travel restrictions since June and comes amid renewed White House efforts to tighten legal immigration after an attack on US National Guard personnel in Washington last week.
Which nations are facing immigration bans?
The list includes Afghanistan, Somalia, Burma (Myanmar), Iran, Libya, Sudan, Yemen, and other countries previously subjected to the strictest bans.
An Afghan national was arrested as the suspect in the shooting that killed one member of the National Guard and critically injured another, an incident referenced prominently in the administration’s new directive.
The memorandum also highlighted other alleged crimes by immigrants as justification for what officials call a “comprehensive re-review” of all pending cases.
What does the new immigration policy mean?
Under the policy, applicants from the 19 countries will face a fresh round of scrutiny, including mandatory security assessments and the possibility of new interviews.
Immigration lawyers say they are already seeing the fallout, with reports of canceled naturalisation ceremonies, interview delays, and halted adjustments of status.
Critics argue the move marks an escalation in the administration’s long-running effort to recalibrate legal immigration pathways, a central pillar of President Donald Trump’s political platform since returning to office in January.
How does this coincide with anti-scam operations in Myanmar?
The announcement coincided with another major US government action targeting foreign threats: the Justice Department’s seizure of a Myanmar-based cryptocurrency scam website accused of defrauding thousands of Americans.
The domain tickmilleas.com was shut down after investigators traced it to the Tai Chang compound, also known as Casino Kosai, a notorious hub for online fraud networks tied to Chinese organised crime and the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA), both sanctioned by the US Treasury.
Officials said the fake trading site, launched in early November 2025, used fabricated account balances to create the illusion of profitable crypto investing and lured victims through social media and fraudulent mobile apps.
What is the fallout of the Myanmar ops?
Tech companies, including Apple, Google, and Meta, have since removed associated apps and thousands of linked accounts following FBI warnings.
The crackdown comes just weeks after Washington launched its first Cryptocurrency Investment Fraud Strike Force, which has already seized three domains tied to the same Myanmar-based network.
The FBI received over 41,000 crypto fraud complaints in 2024, with losses surpassing $5.8 billion, many originating from Southeast Asian scam hubs.
The ongoing investigation is being led by the FBI’s San Diego Field Office with support from the Justice Department’s cybercrime units, part of a broader push to dismantle transnational criminal networks exploiting US consumers and digital financial systems.