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The Trump administration on Friday abruptly paused all asylum decisions nationwide, escalating its response to the shooting of two National Guard members near the White House earlier this week and signaling a sweeping crackdown on migration amid rising political tensions over national security.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Joseph Edlow announced the halt, saying it would remain in effect “until we can ensure that every alien is vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible.” The decision freezes thousands of pending cases and deepens uncertainty for asylum seekers, including those already inside the United States.
The move came one day after President Donald Trump pledged to “permanently pause migration” from what he called “Third World Countries,” though he did not specify which nations would be targeted. His comments followed the death of Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and the critical wounding of Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, who were shot Wednesday while on duty in downtown Washington.
Also Friday, the State Department ordered an immediate pause on issuing visas to anyone traveling on an Afghan passport. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on X that “the United States has no higher priority than protecting our nation and our people.”
The restrictions build on a June proclamation in which Trump banned travel from 12 countries — largely in Africa and the Middle East — and imposed additional restrictions on several others. On Thursday, he listed a series of broad actions he said the U.S. would take, including deporting anyone “not a net asset” to the country, ending federal benefits for noncitizens and even denaturalizing migrants deemed to undermine “domestic tranquility.”
“These are extraordinary steps, but the attack underscores the greatest national security threat facing our nation,” Trump said Thursday.
The suspect in the shooting, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, arrived in the U.S. in 2021 following the fall of Kabul and was granted asylum in April 2025 under the Trump administration, according to law enforcement officials. Investigators say Lakanwal previously served in Afghanistan’s CIA-backed Zero Unit, working alongside U.S. intelligence and special operations teams on counterterrorism missions.
Sources familiar with the investigation described Lakanwal as a “trusted” team member during his service. In the U.S., he lived in Washington state with his family.
Democrats and immigrant advocacy organizations condemned the new restrictions, accusing the administration of using a tragedy to justify extreme immigration measures. They argue Trump has repeatedly exaggerated national security risks tied to asylum seekers.
“Pausing all asylum decisions punishes thousands of people fleeing violence who followed the rules,” said one advocate, calling the move “a political reaction, not a policy solution.”
Trump has previously deployed National Guard troops to Democrat-led cities, including Washington, Chicago and Portland. More than 2,000 Guard members remain active in the nation’s capital.
The shooting remains under investigation, and federal prosecutors have not yet announced whether additional charges will be filed.
