(WASHINGTON, D.C.) The Trump administration has ordered a broad asylum decision halt across the United States 🇺🇸 following the shooting of National Guard members in Washington, D.C., creating fresh fear and confusion for people waiting on life‑changing protection claims. Announced in late November 2025, the pause is not limited to any named country, yet President Trump said in a social media post that it would apply to migration from “Third World Countries,” a phrase that has raised sharp concern among advocates and lawyers who work with people from Iran, Somalia, Yemen, Venezuela, and many other nations already facing heavy travel limits.
What officials have (and haven’t) said
Based on the most recent information available as of November 29, 2025, federal officials have not released any formal list of countries included in the new order. There is no public document from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) that spells out which nationalities fall under the pause. That silence has left thousands of asylum seekers — and their lawyers — trying to guess whether their hearings or written decisions will stop.
People from Iran, Somalia and Yemen feel especially exposed because these countries appeared in earlier travel bans and restrictions that cut off many flights and visa options to the United States.
“There is no written policy that explains how officers should treat Venezuelan filings during this halt.”
How this differs from prior travel bans
In June 2025, President Trump issued a separate proclamation that banned travel to the United States from 12 countries, most of them in Africa and the Middle East, and placed extra limits on several others. That earlier move focused on who could board a plane or receive a visa.
By contrast, the current asylum decision halt reaches deeper into the refugee and protection system itself. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the overlap between past travel bans and the new order makes it “highly likely” that nationals from Iran, Somalia and Yemen will see their asylum cases frozen, even if they applied years before the latest announcement.
The Venezuelan question
Venezuela sits in a grey zone under the current pause. The White House and USCIS have not clearly said whether Venezuelan nationals are included in the order or whether their asylum cases will move ahead.
- Lawyers report frantic calls from clients asking whether long‑awaited interviews will still happen.
- For now, the only honest answer is that no one outside the government can say for sure, because there is no written policy clarifying treatment of Venezuelan filings during the halt.
Scope of reviews inside the system
A USCIS memo cited in recent news reports says the agency plans to relitigate the refugee status of about 233,000 people, including both principal refugees and their family members who came later as derivatives.
- The memo does not say which nationalities are targeted.
- It does not say how many of the cases involve people from Iran, Somalia, Yemen, or Venezuela.
Still, the sheer number — 233,000 — suggests many families who believed their resettlement or asylum journey was settled may now face:
- fresh reviews,
- more interviews,
- longer waits for green cards and citizenship.
Risks for people waiting abroad
For applicants waiting in Iran, Somalia, or Yemen, even small delays can carry heavy risks.
- Many already live in hiding because of threats from armed groups, abusive relatives, or state security forces.
- A pause without a clear time limit can leave people stuck in unsafe transit countries or in crowded camps.
- Families split across borders now face new doubt about when — or if — they will reunite.
- Some may decide to take dangerous sea or land routes rather than wait.
Risks for people inside the United States
Asylum seekers already living in U.S. cities face different but serious problems.
- Many have work permits that must be renewed on strict schedules linked to the progress of their asylum cases.
- If the government stops issuing decisions, applicants fear their documents could expire, leaving them unable to work legally or keep a driver’s license.
- This risk is especially real for people from Iran, Somalia, Yemen, and Venezuela who came years ago and have built lives, businesses, and community ties while their claims slowly moved through the system.
Government guidance and advice
USCIS has said little in public beyond the basic confirmation that asylum and some refugee decisions will pause. There is:
- No detailed timeline
- No clear process to let people know when their cases will resume
Advocacy groups are urging applicants to:
- stay in touch with their legal representatives,
- keep address information current with the government so they do not miss future notices,
- monitor official sources for updates.
Official general information about asylum in the United States remains posted on the uscis.gov website, including filing rules and eligibility, at USCIS. Those pages have not yet been updated to explain how the new order will work in practice.
Political context and reactions
Politically, the move aligns with President Trump’s long‑standing focus on limiting various forms of migration to the United States, especially from parts of Africa and the Middle East.
- Supporters of the pause argue that security reviews must come first after the attack on National Guard members, even if that means longer waits for people with strong asylum claims.
- Critics say the order unfairly paints all asylum seekers from places like Iran, Somalia, Yemen, and Venezuela as potential threats, without pointing to clear evidence that they pose higher risk than people from other regions.
Key takeaways
- Decisions are paused; the full list of affected countries is not public.
- People already in the system are left waiting, often without reliable information.
- Applicants from Iran, Somalia, Yemen, and Venezuela can still file new claims, but should expect little movement on final decisions until the administration issues more detailed guidance.
Thousands of families will watch the news, check their mailboxes and hope their place in line has not quietly disappeared. Many fear that the pause could stretch on indefinitely.
In late November 2025 the administration ordered a pause on many asylum and refugee decisions nationwide, without publishing which nationalities are covered. USCIS reportedly plans to relitigate about 233,000 cases, creating prolonged uncertainty, especially for applicants from Iran, Somalia, Yemen and Venezuela. The pause risks delays to work permits, family reunification and resettlement. Advocates advise maintaining legal contact information, monitoring USCIS updates, and staying in touch with lawyers.
