In the last few hours, several press reports have emerged pointing to immediate changes within the US immigration system that affect applicants from Cuba and 18 other countries.
According to several media outlets, many offices have halted procedures that normally continue even on days of high administrative pressure, and this is due to a clear order from the White House.
Specifically, those most affected by the new measure could be people who were expecting final steps in their cases, and who have begun to receive unexpected notifications or, simply, silence.
Lawyers in various cities confirm unusual activity in cases that were already in their most advanced stages. The decision does not affect an isolated country or a specific type of case, but rather thousands of applicants distributed throughout the system.
Cancellations at ceremonies and interviews
Sources cited by ABC News y The New York Times USCIS confirmed that it has suspended naturalization ceremonies scheduled for this week. The cases involve citizens of Cuba, Venezuela, Iran, and Afghanistan, all of which are on the new travel ban list.
The cancellations happened within hours. People who already had dates scheduled to receive U.S. citizenship saw their oaths suspended without further explanation.
Lawyers also reported interviews being removed from the schedule. Notifications were minimal, and in some cases applicants discovered the suspension when they checked the status of their applications on their own.
Pause on all immigration benefits
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has stopped processing green cards, citizenship applications, and final asylum decisions for the 19 affected countries. The measure extends to both approvals and denials, leaving those nearing the end of their processes in limbo.
A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security told ABC News that “citizenship is a privilege, not a right,” adding that the Trump administration is reviewing all benefits previously granted to foreigners from “countries of interest.”
Countries included and possible expansions
The list includes applicants from Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed that she recommended adding more countries, though she did not reveal which ones. According to sources within the Department of Homeland Security, the update could be announced at any time.