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In response to a deadly shooting in Washington, D.C. involving an Afghan asylum recipient, the administration has announced a series of rapid immigration actions impacting asylum processing, Afghan visa issuance, and filings from nationals of 19 identified countries. The affected countries include Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.
These measures expand security vetting, broaden discretionary review, and are expected to create significant processing delays across multiple categories.
President Trump called for:
- A halt to all asylum decisions
- An indefinite pause on visas for Afghan nationals
- A review of individuals admitted under the prior administration. This may include:
- A new interview or re-interview
- Expanded vetting focused on identifying security or public safety concerns
- Review of any security-related grounds of ineligibility
- A reexamination of green card holders seemingly from 19 countries from the administration’s June 9th travel ban
- Potential additional actions, including denaturalization in certain cases
USCIS later confirmed an agency-wide pause on all asylum adjudications. Officers may continue reviewing cases, but no approvals, denials, or closures will proceed until new vetting procedures are in place. The agency acknowledged it may receive requests to lift holds on specific cases due to litigation or extraordinary circumstances; however, such requests must be approved by the USCIS Director or Deputy Director.
The Department of State has halted all visa issuance for Afghan nationals, directing consulates to refuse both immigrant and nonimmigrant visas, even those already printed. This affects:
- Approximately 265,000 Afghan applicants in the pipeline
- Roughly 180,000 Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) cases
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has similarly paused all Afghan-related immigration requests, including employment-based petitions and adjustment filings, pending expanded vetting reviews.
USCIS also issued new guidance directing officers to apply country-specific negative discretionary factors to filings involving nationals of 19 countries of concern (Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela). This applies to both pending and newly filed employment-based and humanitarian cases.
Reports indicate the individual involved in the D.C. incident entered the U.S. under Operation Allies Welcome in 2021 after assisting U.S. counterterrorism work and had been granted asylum earlier this year. Afghan community groups expressed concern about the policy response and urged continued recognition of the long-standing U.S.-Afghan partnership.
WR Immigration is actively monitoring these changes and will share further guidance as agencies release more information.
Impact: These policy shifts significantly tighten immigration processing and will lead to slower timelines, more scrutiny, and increased unpredictability across asylum, visa, and employment-based filings. Employers should anticipate delays in onboarding and transfers, particularly for Afghan nationals and employees from the 19 affected countries and work closely with counsel to support impacted employees and adjust planning as agency policies evolve.
Starting December 15, U.S. consulates will expand their online-presence screening policy to include all H-1B and H-4 visa applicants, marking the first major extension of this vetting beyond student and exchange categories. Applicants will be required to set their social media accounts to “public,” enabling consular officers to review posts, activity, and other digital information as part of the visa adjudication process.
While the State Department has not provided formal review standards, earlier guidance from the F/M/J rollout suggests officers may look for indicators tied to security concerns, potential misuse of sensitive information, political activism, or perceived hostility toward the United States. Consulates anticipate additional processing time, and applicants whose online presence raises questions could face follow-up interviews, administrative processing, or visa refusals.
Impact: In-house mobility teams should expect reduced appointment availability, longer turnaround times, and a higher risk of travel disruption for H-1B employees and dependents. Proactive communication and advising employees to review their online presence before travel will be essential.
The Department of Justice has dismissed eight immigration judges from New York City’s 26 Federal Plaza court, including Assistant Chief Immigration Judge Amiena Khan, as part of a nationwide overhaul of the immigration judiciary. Nearly 100 judges have been removed in 2025, with additional departures through retirements and resignations, reducing the bench from about 700 to under 600.
While the judge corps is shrinking, Congress has authorized expansion to 800 permanent judges. DOJ has begun rebuilding by hiring 11 permanent judges and assigning 25 temporary judges, many of them military attorneys, and the Pentagon is considering sending more to address the record 3.4 million-case backlog. DOJ has also relaxed eligibility rules for temporary judges to widen the pool of available adjudicators. Some dismissed judges have criticized the firings as politically motivated, but DOJ has not commented on specific personnel decisions.
Impact: These changes may intensify delays in court-dependent immigration processes, as reduced staffing and expanded use of temporary judges add to an already record backlog. Employers should expect longer case timelines and greater uncertainty for employees navigating removal or asylum proceedings.
The Department of Homeland Security has formally ended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti, concluding that the country no longer meets the statutory criteria for the program. The decision follows an interagency assessment led by USCIS and other federal agencies, which determined that extending TPS would not align with U.S. national interests.
The termination becomes effective February 3, 2026. Haitian nationals currently holding TPS are advised to prepare to depart the United States if they do not have another lawful immigration status. DHS noted that individuals may report their departure through the CBP One mobile application, a process that includes a complimentary return flight, a $1,000 departure incentive, and potential eligibility for future legal immigration pathways.
Impact: Employers should identify employees relying on Haiti TPS and prepare for potential work authorization expirations early next year. Teams should review alternative immigration options and adjust staffing plans accordingly.