USCIS Tightens Immigration Review for Nationals from Designated Countries Following Presidential Proclamation

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has updated its policies in response to Presidential Proclamation 10949, implementing significant restrictions on how it reviews immigration benefit requests for individuals from certain designated countries. The changes place holds on many pending applications, including asylum requests filed on Form I-589, and direct re-reviews of previously approved benefits like green cards and status changes for individuals from affected countries who entered the U.S. on or after January 20, 2021. Adjudicators are now instructed to apply country-specific factors outlined in the proclamation when exercising discretion over both pending and future benefit requests.

Under prior policy, once a benefit request such as asylum, adjustment of status, or extension was approved, or once an I-589 was filed, it would typically proceed subject only to standard processing delays without special country-based review. The new directive treats applications from listed countries as discretionary matters, making country of origin a significant negative factor by default for asylum or status-based benefit requests. For asylum seekers, even properly filed I-589 applications may now be held or effectively frozen while USCIS conducts additional security and vetting procedures. The net effect creates uncertainty, long delays, heightened risk, and potential case re-openings for many who submitted applications in good faith or had them previously approved.

Nationals of the 19 countries listed under PP 10949 are subject to the new policy, with potential expansion if the list grows. Any pending application for asylum or other immigration benefits filed by individuals from these countries, whether submitted before or after the policy update, may be placed on hold. Individuals from these countries whose benefits were previously approved may now face re-review or possible referral to law enforcement depending on their entry date. The policy specifically targets those who entered on or after January 20, 2021, creating a retroactive application of new standards to previously adjudicated cases.

In practical terms, pending I-589 asylum applications may be frozen with no interviews scheduled and no adjudication, potentially resulting in indefinite delays even for applications filed long ago. For adjustment of status, change-of-status, or other benefit requests, pending cases may experience significant delays while previously approved cases may be reopened or re-evaluated. Applicants may face referral to enforcement agencies or additional vetting procedures including interviews and background checks. The policy shift represents a substantial change in how USCIS processes applications from designated countries, moving from standard procedural review to country-specific discretionary evaluation that prioritizes security concerns over timely adjudication.

The immigration law firm Bolour / Carl Immigration Group has analyzed these developments, noting that the changes create particular challenges for asylum seekers who have already filed applications and individuals with previously approved status changes. The firm's analysis of USCIS policy updates indicates that the new approach could affect thousands of cases currently in the system, creating backlogs and uncertainty for applicants from the designated countries. More information about immigration policy changes is available through official government channels including https://www.uscis.gov where policy manuals and procedural updates are regularly posted for public review.