WASHINGTON — More than 100 Democratic lawmakers have called on the Trump administration to immediately reverse an indefinite pause on immigration and citizenship applications that has disrupted the lives of thousands of legally vetted immigrants from countries covered by President Donald Trump’s latest travel ban.
In a strongly worded letter dated December 18 and sent to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Joseph Edlow, members of Congress warned that the decision has caused widespread confusion, family separation, and emotional distress for applicants who had already completed every required legal step toward permanent residency or U.S. citizenship.
The lawmakers said the December 2 USCIS announcement has led to the abrupt suspension of green card processing, cancellation of naturalization interviews, and even the halting of citizenship oath ceremonies — actions they say appear to be based solely on applicants’ national origin.
“Despite the Trump administration’s claims of going after the ‘worst of the worst,’ it is attacking the very people who have followed every process and undergone extensive and repeated vetting to secure legal status,” the lawmakers wrote. “This sweeping action is unjustified, discriminatory, and inconsistent with our nation’s founding principles.”
Applicants Stopped at the Final Step
The letter was spearheaded by Rep. Pramila Jayapal, ranking member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security and Enforcement, and Rep. Lizzie Fletcher of Texas. It details numerous reports from across the country of immigrants being informed — often without explanation — that their cases had been placed on hold.
In some of the most troubling accounts, lawmakers said individuals who had already passed their naturalization exams were removed from oath ceremonies moments before formally becoming U.S. citizens.
“These naturalization ceremonies are a time of celebration, as soon-to-be U.S. citizens welcome their friends and family to witness their achievement,” the letter said. “To deny this monumental milestone — after years, and sometimes decades, of waiting — is a slap in the face.”
Lawmakers emphasized that many affected applicants had already undergone extensive background checks, security screenings, and moral character reviews, leaving them stunned when their cases were suddenly frozen.
Lack of Transparency Raises Alarm
Beyond the human impact, members of Congress criticized USCIS for failing to provide basic clarity about the scope or duration of the pause. According to the letter, the agency has not explained how long the suspension will last, whether additional vetting is being conducted, or why previously approved cases are being reconsidered.
“Without clarity on how long this broad pause will last, soon-to-be citizens will be left in limbo in perpetuity, and families will be forced to remain separated,” the lawmakers warned.
They added that the move has created fear among applicants that falling out of legal status while waiting could expose them to enforcement action, despite having complied fully with U.S. immigration law.
Rep. Angie Craig accused the administration of deliberately obstructing lawful pathways to citizenship, saying the policy unfairly targets immigrants who “have followed the law and completed the necessary steps to achieve legal status.”
Requests for Immediate Answers
In their letter, lawmakers demanded detailed responses from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and USCIS by December 31. Among their requests:
- The number of green card, naturalization, and immigration cases affected
- How many citizenship ceremonies have been canceled or postponed
- Whether any new background or security checks are being imposed
- Guarantees that applicants will not lose eligibility or face enforcement while waiting
Reps. Jayapal and Fletcher said the decision has “caused chaos across the country,” particularly in immigrant communities that believed they were nearing the end of a long and difficult legal process.
Travel Ban Fallout Resurfaces
The pause is tied to President Donald Trump’s renewed travel ban, which restricts travel and legal immigration from 19 countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, Somalia, and Yemen. Lawmakers noted that additional countries were later added or subjected to partial restrictions.
The policy revives one of Trump’s most controversial immigration strategies from his first term, when sweeping travel bans triggered mass protests and legal challenges before being upheld in a narrower form by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Critics argue that the current pause goes even further by affecting people already inside the United States who had been approved to move forward in the legal immigration process.
“No amount of vetting, moral character, or commitment to this country and its democratic values appears to be enough to satisfy this administration,” the lawmakers wrote.
A Broader Immigration Flashpoint
As immigration once again becomes a defining political issue, Democrats say the USCIS pause undermines trust in the legal immigration system and sends a chilling message to those who believed following the rules would lead to stability and citizenship.
With pressure mounting from Congress, immigrant advocacy groups, and affected families, the administration now faces renewed scrutiny over whether it will reverse course or allow the pause to continue indefinitely — leaving thousands of future Americans waiting at the final step.
