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USCIS pauses some requests, updates policy, reviews past approvals
On 2 December 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a Policy Memorandum (the 2 December memo) directing its personnel to:
- Place a hold on all Applications for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal (Form I-589) regardless of the applicant’s country of nationality;
- Place a hold “on pending benefit requests” for foreign nationals from countries listed in Presidential Proclamation 10949, which was issued in June 2025 and created full and partial restrictions on entry to the United States for nationals of 19 countries; and
- Conduct a “comprehensive re-review of approved benefit requests” for foreign nationals from those 19 countries who entered the United States on or after 20 January 2021.
USCIS has allotted 90 days from 2 December to:
- Prioritize a list for review, interview, re-interview, and referral to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement “and other law enforcement agencies as appropriate;” and
- Issue operational guidance for USCIS personnel.