The Trump administration has ordered U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to pause all asylum decisions, following the shooting of two National Guard soldiers in Washington, D.C., officials said Friday. The internal directive instructs asylum officers to halt approvals, denials, and closures for all asylum applications indefinitely.
The order comes after the suspect, an Afghan man who was granted asylum earlier this year, allegedly carried out the attack. One of the soldiers has died, and the administration is citing the incident as justification to tighten the U.S. immigration system.
According to the directive, USCIS officers can continue interviews and case reviews but must stop short of entering final decisions. In-person appointments for asylum applicants were also canceled, at least temporarily. USCIS Director Joe Edlow confirmed the pause, stating that it is intended to ensure applicants are fully vetted. “The safety of the American people always comes first,” he said.
The Afghan suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, entered the U.S. in September 2021 through a humanitarian parole program under the Biden administration, part of an effort to resettle tens of thousands of Afghans after the Taliban takeover. He applied for asylum in 2024 and received approval earlier this year.
The Trump administration has expanded its immigration measures in response to the attack. Officials initially paused all legal immigration applications from Afghanistan, including citizenship, green card, work permit, and asylum cases. USCIS is now reviewing green card applications from nationals of 19 countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Cuba, Haiti, and Venezuela. The review focuses on concerns about vetting and verifying documents from countries with limited government capacity to issue passports or civil records.
USCIS guidance states that the lack of reliable documentation in these countries affects its ability to confirm identity and eligibility for benefits. Officers have been instructed that concerns over insufficient verification may be used as a reason to deny applications.
President Trump also posted on Truth Social Thursday, vowing to “permanently pause migration from all Third World countries” and suggesting that individuals who pose security risks or are deemed incompatible with U.S. values could face deportation. The White House has not provided detailed plans for implementing these measures.
The indefinite pause affects both “affirmative” asylum cases, where applicants seek protection proactively, and “defensive” cases, which are filed by individuals facing deportation and handled by federal immigration judges. The administration said the pause applies to all nationalities, including those arriving under Biden-era resettlement programs like “Operation Allies Welcome.”
Immigration experts note that halting asylum decisions nationwide is a rare and sweeping action, highlighting the administration’s focus on national security and border control. While USCIS will continue to conduct interviews and review materials, final decisions will remain on hold until the vetting process is strengthened.
The announcement has raised concerns among immigrant advocacy groups, who argue that the indefinite suspension could leave thousands of asylum seekers in legal limbo and create additional backlogs in the U.S. immigration system. The administration maintains that the pause is a necessary measure to prevent security risks and ensure thorough background checks.
