(WASHINGTON, D.C., USA) U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has halted all asylum decisions nationwide after a deadly shooting near the White House, the agency’s director said, marking one of the most sweeping pauses of the modern asylum system. USCIS Director Joseph Edlow announced that USCIS “has suspended all asylum decisions until we can ensure the most complete vetting of every alien possible. The safety of the American people always comes first.” The suspension, revealed after the November 27, 2025 attack, instantly threw thousands of pending cases into uncertainty.
Scope of the pause
The pause covers affirmative asylum applications pending with the agency and defensive cases where USCIS officers would normally issue decisions after interviews. Officials did not say how many people are affected, but the asylum backlog already runs into the hundreds of thousands.
The agency’s public asylum guidance on uscis.gov had not yet been updated as of Friday, leaving lawyers and applicants to rely on scattered statements from local offices.
According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, a full stop on decisions, even for a few weeks, could:
– Delay protection for people fleeing persecution.
– Keep families apart longer while their fates remain unresolved in the United States.
– Spark panic among applicants, as advocates warned.
The triggering incident and immediate responses
The policy shift came after a shooting on November 27 near the White House that left two National Guard members injured; one died the next day. Authorities identified the shooter as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29‑year‑old Afghan immigrant who arrived in the United States in 2021 during the Biden administration. He was granted asylum in April 2025 under President Trump’s administration, according to officials.
While investigators have not released a full motive, the case has already turned into a flashpoint in the long political fight over refugee and asylum systems. Critics say the government failed to detect warning signs before granting protection to Lakanwal. Supporters caution against blaming all asylum seekers for one attack.
“The safety of the American people always comes first.” — USCIS Director Joseph Edlow
Edlow made clear the halt in asylum decisions is broad, covering applicants from every country rather than targeting particular nationalities.
Additional measures targeting Afghan travel
At the same time as the USCIS pause, the administration moved against Afghans specifically. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said President Trump’s State Department “has suspended visas for all travelers using Afghan passports. The United States has no higher priority than protecting our country and our people.”
This suspension:
– Reaches far beyond individuals like Rahmanullah Lakanwal who already received asylum.
– Affects students, business visitors, and relatives planning temporary trips.
– Creates an indefinite stop on new visa approvals tied to Afghan travel documents.
Airlines and refugee groups reported immediate cancellations and callers seeking answers.
President Trump’s comments and political fallout
Speaking after the attack, President Trump said he plans to “permanently pause migration” from certain countries, though he did not list which ones, instead referring to “Third World Countries.” The phrase, rarely used in formal policy, raised fears among immigrants from Africa, Latin America and parts of Asia that broad regional bans could follow.
Trump also repeated his promise to terminate what he called “millions of Biden illegal admissions” and to remove people he described as “not a net asset to the United States.” His words suggest more sweeping changes could follow the current break on USCIS asylum work and Afghan visa processing. Democratic lawmakers accused him of exploiting a tragedy to push restrictions.
Impact on asylum seekers and families
For asylum seekers already in the queue, the halt adds yet another layer of delay to a process that can stretch for years. Many applicants wait not only for safety but also for the chance to reunite with spouses and children left behind.
A stopped pipeline at USCIS means:
– Interviews may still go forward, but final decisions will not be issued, leaving people in legal limbo.
– Work authorization renewals tied to pending claims may be slowed.
– Some families could be pushed toward homelessness as they struggle to keep jobs and housing without the security an approved asylum grant provides.
Clinics and community organizations already report rising anxiety, depression, and sleeplessness among clients nationwide.
Afghan American response and humanitarian concerns
Afghan American groups stressed that Rahmanullah Lakanwal’s actions, while horrific, do not represent the thousands of Afghans who arrived after the fall of Kabul and passed background checks. They note many worked alongside U.S. forces and now fear being collectively punished.
Concerns include:
– The blanket visa freeze for Afghan passport holders, combined with the wider halt in asylum decisions, risks stranding relatives in danger overseas.
– It could close doors to translators and former allies still seeking refuge.
– For families who helped the United States during the war, the shift feels like a reversal of promises made when they boarded evacuation flights.
Several advocacy hotlines reported callers who were crying, angry and deeply confused.
Legal scrutiny and questions about necessity
Legal scholars say the government has wide power to slow or stop immigration processing, but they question whether a total freeze on asylum decisions is necessary or workable.
Edlow framed the change as a security measure to allow “the most complete vetting of every alien possible.” Yet USCIS already conducts multiple checks with security partners, and officials have not publicly said what new screening they plan to add or how long the pause could last.
Immigrant advocates warn:
– Open‑ended language invites months of delay.
– People who followed the rules may be left stuck and afraid any small mistake could now cost them protection.
– Some predict court challenges if the pause stretches into 2026.
The symbolic case and what’s next
The case of Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who entered under President Biden but received asylum under President Trump, has become a symbol for both sides of the argument.
- Hard‑line voices highlight his path through the system as evidence that asylum is too generous.
- Human rights groups counter that one violent crime should not erase protections for people escaping war, torture, and political revenge.
As the investigation continues, refugees and other migrants now watch every briefing from Washington, trying to guess whether the current freeze is a brief pause or the start of a far deeper rollback of the United States’ asylum promise.
For now, their futures remain suspended alongside every file on hold everywhere.
Following a November 27 shooting near the White House, USCIS suspended all asylum decisions nationwide to allow enhanced vetting, affecting both affirmative and defensive cases amid a backlog of hundreds of thousands. The administration also suspended visas for holders of Afghan passports. Officials have not detailed additional security checks or a timeline. Advocates warn the pause could prolong family separations, delay work authorizations, increase mental health strains, and prompt legal challenges if extended.
