Overview
- A Dec. 2 USCIS memo directed staff to halt adjudication of immigration applications, including naturalization steps, for people from 19 administration-designated high-risk countries.
- At Boston’s Faneuil Hall on Dec. 4, approved applicants were pulled from the line before the oath ceremony based on country of origin, an approach advocates say is occurring at other sites.
- USCIS announced a new Vetting Center in Atlanta to expand screening for immigration and naturalization, with the agency framing the move as a national-security measure.
- DHS defended the pauses as ensuring higher standards for new citizens, while USCIS has not released counts of canceled events or said when affected applicants will be rescheduled.
- Reporting describes broader tightening of legal immigration, including more frequent work-permit vetting and ongoing backlogs, with advocates warning of widespread disruption and confusion.