U.S. Freezes Immigration Applications From 20 More Countries

US expands immigration pause

Affects visas and asylum

Includes new exceptions

The United States government significantly expanded its pause on immigration processes.

This measure directly impacts thousands of people seeking to regularize their status or begin immigration applications from countries deemed high-risk by US authorities.

US Immigration Pause Expands

BREAKING: U.S. Homeland Security has just suspended immigration from 20 countries, mainly in Africa.
“To comply with immigration law, the flow of foreign nationals from countries with high rates of overstays, fraud, or both must cease.” pic.twitter.com/Pi0oZBsABW

— Eduardo Menoni (@eduardomenoni) January 3, 2026

The US government extended the pause on immigration applications to 20 additional countries, according to a memorandum issued by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

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The measure affects applications for visas, permanent residency, citizenship, and asylum, according to the official document, as reported by Telemundo.

This pause adds to a previous decision that had already halted immigration processes for citizens of other countries, as part of a broader set of restrictive immigration policies.

Who Is Affected by the New Immigration Pause in the US?

New measure against immigrants: U.S. expands deportations due to “contagious diseases.” https://t.co/HEegJYBuze pic.twitter.com/DzQfnHW1Sw

— el Nuevo Herald (@elnuevoherald) January 2, 2026

The new rule primarily impacts countries on the African continent. Among those listed are Angola, Nigeria, Tanzania, Senegal, and Zimbabwe.

These nations are added to a previous list of countries whose citizens were already facing restrictions on entering the United States or adjusting their immigration status.

Under President Donald Trump, the US government paused immigration processes—including green cards and citizenship—for individuals from 19 countries with existing travel restrictions.

According to a memorandum from the Department of Homeland Security, the policy affects nationals from Venezuela, Cuba, Burundi, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.

The expansion reinforces the administration’s immigration policy and broadens its impact on communities with pending cases or planned applications before USCIS.

The US Government’s Justification

USCIS justified the measure on grounds of national security and enforcement of immigration law.

“USCIS remains committed to ensuring that foreign nationals from high-risk countries who have entered the United States do not pose a threat to national security or public safety,” the agency stated in the memorandum.

The document also argues that the pause aims to curb what the government views as problematic migration patterns.

“To faithfully comply with US immigration law, the flow of foreign nationals from countries with high rates of unlawful stay, significant fraud, or both must be halted,” USCIS added.

These statements reflect the official position that suspending applications is a tool to strengthen immigration controls and reduce risks associated with certain countries.

Exceptions and Broader Context

The memorandum includes specific exceptions.

Among them are applications for athletes and teams participating in international events such as the World Cup and the Olympic Games.

These exceptions allow certain immigration processes to continue despite the pause applied to most applications.

The measure adds to the existing travel ban affecting citizens of 39 countries, including Venezuela, Cuba, Libya, Sudan, and Yemen—further consolidating the scope of the US immigration pause.