Recent Policy news

1. All immigration applications are paused for individuals from an additional 20 countries, totaling nearly 40 countries since the initial June 2025 travel ban was issued.

What happened: On Jan. 1, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services issued a memo that said the U.S. government is pausing all immigration applications for people who are nationals of or are born in one of the additional 20 countries added to the travel ban on Dec. 16, 2025.* This pause on immigration applications includes applications for visas, green cards, citizenship, and asylum. The memo also stated the agency will re-review immigration applications submitted by people from the additional 20 designated countries that were approved on or after Jan. 20, 2021.

This is in addition to the already paused processing of immigration applications and re-review of immigration applications of individuals from the 19 countries identified in the June 2025 travel ban.

*The full travel ban country list includes: Afghanistan, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Gabon, The Gambia, Haiti, Iran, Laos, Libya, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Venezuela, Yemen, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, as well as individuals holding travel documents issued by the Palestinian Authority.

Why it matters: Newcomers who sought safety from Afghanistan, Haiti, Venezuela, and nearly 40 countries have no way to renew their legal status or work authorization, and are at risk of losing legal status or work authorization in the U.S. This latest policy change expands the administration’s efforts to re-review newcomers who followed legal immigration processes and builds on sweeping policy changes in early December affecting refugees, asylum seekers, and many lawful permanent residents.

How to talk about it: The families impacted by this pause and re-review have followed all the rules to find safety in the U.S. When discussing this policy update with people in your life, consider centering what you share on the personal, relatable impacts, such as the uncertainty parents must feel for their children and the desire to provide for their families.

2. Many Venezuelans in the U.S. remain uncertain about their future and legal status to live and work here.

What happened: Many Venezuelans in the U.S. remain in limbo after U.S. action in Venezuela last week. Last year, President Trump’s administration revoked Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuelans in the U.S. and revoked legal status for Venezuelans who arrived through the Processes for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans. Earlier this week, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Noem indicated Venezuelans may have the opportunity to “apply for refugee status.” However, a DHS social media account later said Secretary Noem’s comments were mischaracterized and clarified that Venezuelans already in the U.S. cannot apply for refugee status and TPS for Venezuela remains terminated.

Why it matters: The end of TPS last year affected more than 500,000 Venezuelans who were legally in the U.S. Many Venezuelan nationals who arrived in the U.S. after fleeing violence and persecution remain in limbo after the safe, legal programs that granted them temporary status were terminated, and no additional protections became available.

How to talk about it: More than 500,000 Venezuelans relied on TPS to remain safely in the U.S. Although the hope is that they can return to peace and freedom in their country, this evolving situation is complex, and the circumstances for every newcomer’s case is different. When discussing the changing status and uncertainty Venezuelans face, consider sharing a tangible example of why they sought safety here.

3. All Afghan immigration application processing remains paused.

What happened: The pause on all immigration application processing for Afghans, such as asylum, work permits, green cards, travel documents, as well as Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) remains paused. Additionally, no Afghans are being permitted to travel to the U.S., who are at risk for supporting the U.S., and those pursuing family reunification after many years of separation.

Why it matters: The fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban in 2021 left hundreds of thousands of families at risk who supported U.S. military forces and initiatives there. Many of our allies remain in danger, and the pause in Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) decisions leave them without the opportunity to seek safety in the U.S. Because Afghanistan is on the travel ban list, allies who are safely in the U.S. cannot renew their immigration documents or work authorization and face the possibility of losing their legal status.

How to talk about it: The U.S. made a promise to protect our Afghan wartime allies who were threatened and forced to flee their homes due to their support of the U.S. mission in Afghanistan. When talking about the continued pause on immigration and application processing for our Afghan allies, as well as for the many other Afghans seeking safety, highlight the widespread support that Americans across the country have had for Afghan newcomers since 2021. Millions of Americans have already, and continue to, raise their hands to welcome our Afghan allies in their communities. Read about how U.S. veterans have supported our Afghan allies here.

Previous updates

December 2025

1. President Trump expanded the travel ban to include full restrictions on five additional countries and partial restrictions on 12 countries.

On Dec. 16, President Trump issued a proclamation expanding the 19 countries included in his original travel ban from June. The latest proclamation expands a full travel ban to five countries and people with Palestinian Authority-issued travel documents, and it includes partial restrictions on 15 countries. The new proclamation takes effect on Jan. 1, 2026.

a. Countries included in the June 2025 travel ban: Afghanistan, Burma (Myanmar), Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.

b. Countries with full restrictions identified in the December 2025 travel ban: Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, and Syria, as well as people with travel documents issued by the Palestinian Authority. The Trump administration expanded restrictions from partial to full against Laos and Sierra Leone.

c. The Trump administration added partial restrictions and energy limitations on 15 additional countries: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Cote d'Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

2. On Dec. 4, USCIS announced it is shortening work permits from five years to 18 months.

USCIS is reducing Employment Authorization Documents for some newcomers from five years to 18 months to more frequently vet individuals applying for work authorization. This change does not apply to existing work permits. Effective Dec. 5, 2025, applications for work permits will be limited to 18 months for:

• Newcomers with refugee status
• Asylees, newcomers with pending applications for asylum or withholding of removal
• Newcomers granted withholding of deportation or removal
• Newcomers with pending applications for adjustment of status under INA 245
• Newcomers with pending applications for suspension of deportation, cancellation of removal, or relief under the Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act.

3. On Nov. 26, USCIS announced on social media it would stop processing all immigration requests from Afghan nationals.

The announcement from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) pauses applications for asylum, green cards, work authorization, and Special Immigrant Visas. The Trump administration had already restricted immigration for people from Afghanistan. One of the few remaining reliable pathways was Special Immigrant Visas, which provided safety to Afghans who supported the U.S. during the war effort in Afghanistan. But given this announcement, all pathways for Afghans have been paused.

4. On. Nov. 27, USCIS Director Joseph Edlow said on social media that President Trump directed the agency to reexamine every green-card holder from the 19 countries listed in President Trump’s travel ban that was announced in June.

[Link to Joseph Edlow's social media post] [Link to June 2025 travel ban announcement]

The travel ban fully restricts and limits the entry of nationals from: Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. Countries with partial restrictions include Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.

On Nov. 27, USCIS also issued new guidance that could make it more difficult for people from the 19 countries impacted by the travel ban to apply for green cards.

5. On Nov. 28, USCIS Director Joseph Edlow announced on social media a pause in all asylum decisions.

Edlow said decisions would be paused until all asylum seekers are “vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible.” The department also said it would review all asylum cases approved during the Biden administration.

6. President Trump has said on social media that he will seek action against some immigrants and naturalized citizens.

In a social media post, President Trump said he would end federal benefits for non-citizens, denaturalize “migrants who undermine domestic tranquility,” and deport immigrants who are “non-compatible with Western Civilization.”

7. On Nov. 24, news reports indicated the administration plans to review refugees admitted under the Biden administration.

Recent news reports cited a memo from USCIS saying it would review all refugees admitted to the U.S. during the Biden administration, which is approximately 200,000 cases. All refugees admitted since the program launched in 1980 have undergone extensive vetting.

We’ll continue to share updates as we have them, including analysis of how policy changes will impact newcomers and the communities who welcomed them. Watch our on-demand webinar to gain a deeper understanding of these new policies and what you can do today to support your new neighbors.