WASHINGTON (Diya TV) — More than 100 Democratic lawmakers are calling on the Trump administration to lift an indefinite pause on immigration and citizenship applications. The pause affects nationals from 19 countries included in President Donald Trump’s travel ban. Lawmakers warn that the policy is causing serious harm to legally vetted immigrants and their families.
In a letter sent Dec. 18 to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Joseph Edlow, lawmakers said the December 2 announcement by USCIS halted green card applications, naturalization interviews, and even oath ceremonies. These actions, they said, were based solely on applicants’ national origin.
“Despite claims of targeting the ‘worst of the worst,’ the administration is attacking people who have followed every process and undergone repeated vetting to secure legal status,” the lawmakers wrote.
The letter, led by Congresswomen Pramila Jayapal and Lizzie Fletcher, details numerous cases where applicants were told their applications were paused for no clear reason. Lawmakers called the move unjustified, discriminatory, and inconsistent with U.S. founding principles.
The pause has particularly hurt people who have already completed most steps toward citizenship. Some individuals who passed their citizenship exams were removed from the line just moments before taking the oath.
“These naturalization ceremonies are moments of celebration. Friends and family witness applicants becoming U.S. citizens. To delay this achievement through no fault of their own is a slap in the face,” the letter said.
Lawmakers also criticized USCIS for not explaining how long the pause will last or whether additional background checks are required. They said the lack of clarity leaves future citizens in limbo and keeps families separated. “No amount of vetting, moral character, or commitment to this country is enough to satisfy the Trump administration,” the letter added.
Democratic members requested detailed answers from DHS and USCIS by Dec. 31. They want to know how many citizenship ceremonies were canceled, how many applications are affected, and whether new background checks are being applied to previously vetted applicants.
Rep. Angie Craig accused the administration of blocking legal immigrants’ path to citizenship and targeting people who have followed all rules. Reps. Fletcher and Jayapal said the pause has caused nationwide chaos, including cases where fully approved applicants were stopped just before taking the citizenship oath.
The lawmakers also sought assurances that those affected will not lose eligibility to naturalize or face enforcement action if they fall out of status while waiting.
The pause stems from Trump’s travel ban, which restricts travel and immigration from Afghanistan, Iran, Somalia, Yemen, and other countries. The policy marks a return to the president’s signature immigration approach from his first term. Earlier sweeping travel bans sparked legal challenges and protests but were upheld in modified form by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Lawmakers say this policy does not target criminals or threats. Instead, it punishes law-abiding immigrants who have already passed rigorous security checks.
Experts warn that the indefinite pause could affect thousands of families. Some have already waited years, even decades, to complete the citizenship process. Delaying naturalization not only impacts individuals but also divides families and disrupts community stability.
The letter’s authors urge the administration to end the pause immediately. They emphasize that the policy is unfair, discriminatory, and inconsistent with American values. Democrats argue that legal immigrants who have followed the rules should not be penalized based on their country of origin.
