The Trump administration has halted all immigration applications filed by people from 19 countries, according to internal government guidance, its latest move to restrict legal immigration pathways.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced the new directive in a Dec. 2 policy memo. The agency cited concerns about national security and public safety following the shooting of two National Guard members by a suspect of Afghan nationality. One was killed and another seriously wounded.

Afghanistan, the country of origin for the National Guard shooter, is one of the 19 high-risk countries included in the list.

The shooting raised questions about whether the government missed any red flags about the alleged attacker, 29-year-old Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal.

Nearly a quarter of a million migrants from nations designated by the Trump administration as “countries of concern” have entered Britain since 2021, GB News can reveal. US President Donald Trump signalled a dramatic tightening of America’s immigration system following the shooting of two members of the National Guard last week.

The greater Sacramento area is home to one of the nation's largest Afghan refugee communities, now impacted by the freeze on immigration from Afghanistan.

Sen. Ted Cruz's 2021 warnings about inadequate vetting of Afghan refugees appeared validated after recent attacks by evacuees contradicted CNN's fact-check.

The changes include a pause on all asylum decisions, c Green Card vetting, and a halt on all visas for Afghans.