Overview
- Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the administration will grow the list beyond 30 countries, while the president evaluates which nations to add and officials withhold the list and start date.
- The expansion builds on a June action that barred entry from 12 countries and imposed partial limits on seven others, a group that includes Afghanistan, Somalia, Iran, Haiti, Cuba, Venezuela, Libya and Yemen.
- Following the Nov. 26 shooting near the White House, agencies paused asylum decisions, halted Afghan visa issuances, and slowed processing of benefits for nationals from the 19-country list, while USCIS shortened some work-permit durations.
- Officials describe the policy as a security measure tied to vetting gaps and unstable governments, and Noem has urged a far broader ban in public remarks.
- Immigration groups and some lawmakers criticized the escalation and reported canceled naturalization ceremonies for affected nationals, while the shooting suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, has been charged with first-degree murder and pleaded not guilty.