The directive, disclosed in an internal memo obtained by US media, marks one of the most extensive pauses to legal immigration processing under President Donald Trump.
The guidance, issued to staff at the US Citizenship and Immigration Services, instructs immigration officers to stop adjudicating all cases linked to the affected countries and to cancel oath ceremonies for candidates on the verge of naturalisation.
The memo states that the hold covers all application types, including approvals, denials, and the completion of citizenship oaths.
A spokesman for the agency, Matthew Tragesser, confirmed the decision to US reporters, saying the administration is focused on ensuring that individuals granted citizenship meet the highest standards.
He added that citizenship is considered a privilege rather than an automatic right.
US to expand travel ban list
The move follows intensified political pressure after a shooting in Washington last week that left a National Guard soldier dead and another critically injured.
The suspect, an Afghan national living in the United States under a programme that provided protections for Afghans who assisted American forces before the Taliban’s return to power, has been arrested.
Immigration lawyers across the country report that clients from Venezuela, Iran, and Afghanistan have had naturalisation interviews cancelled this week.
For many, the setback interrupts years of processing, background checks, and residency requirements. Naturalisation ceremonies, which often feature families waving flags as new citizens take their oath, mark the final step in a lengthy and costly process that can take more than 5 years and cost thousands of dollars in fees.
The administration has repeatedly argued that tighter controls are necessary to safeguard national security.
