The move comes days after an Afghan national opened fire on National Guard personnel near the White House, prompting the US government to tighten existing vetting procedures.

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US Citizenship and Immigration Services said in a four-page policy memo, "USCIS has considered that this direction may result in delay to the adjudication of some pending applications and has weighed that consequence against the urgent need for the agency to ensure that applicants are vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible".

According to American media reports, the suspension targets individuals from countries whose eligibility for various immigration categories had already been limited by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) earlier in June. The list includes Afghanistan, Somalia, Iran, Libya, Myanmar, Sudan, Turkmenistan, and Yemen, among others. All pending cases from these countries, whether awaiting final approval or denial, have been placed on hold until further notice.

Following the recent attack, President Donald Trump announced what he described as the “toughest-ever” immigration measures for regions flagged as high risk.

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Officials say US security agencies are further tightening the screening of refugees, particularly applicants from Afghanistan, including enhanced checks on online activity and digital footprints.

The administration maintains that the decision is part of broader efforts to strengthen internal security and prevent potential threats.