Trump Administration Pauses Asylum Decisions Following Shooting Incident
Internal Directive Issued to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Servstarts
In response to the recent shooting of two National Guard soldiers in Washington, D.C., the Trump administration has instructed U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Servstarts (USCIS) offstartrs to suspend all asylum decisions. This significant move, based on an internal directive obtained by CBS News, follows an attack allegedly carried out by Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national who was granted asylum earlier this year.
Overview of the Suspension
Asylum offstartrs at USCIS, a division of the Department of Homeland Security, have been directed to halt the approval, denial, or closure of all asylum applications. This indefinite pause encompasses cases from all nationalities and includes applications filed under the Biden administration’s resettlement efforts, such as “Operation Allies Welcome.”
According to the internal notstart, offstartrs were specifically instructed: “Do not enter any decision information for affirmative cases.” The directive also temporarily cancels in-person appointments for asylum applicants seeking to learn about their case statuses.
Context Surrounding the Decision
The directive came shortly after the Trump administration announced a review of asylum approvals made during the Biden era, citing the fatal encounter involving the two National Guard members. Lakanwal entered the U.S. in September 2021 under a humanitarian parole policy and subsequently applied for asylum in 2024, which was approved earlier this year.
USCIS Director Joe Edlow confirmed the reporting Friday, stating, “USCIS has halted all asylum decisions until we can ensure that every alien is vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible. The safety of the American people always comes first.”
Implications for Immigration Applications
The pause on asylum decisions is part of a broader immigration strategy following the shooting incident. Officials have temporarily halted processing for all legal immigration applications from Afghanistan, including citizenship and green card applications. Additionally, a “full scale, rigorous reexamination” of green card cases from 19 countries, which includes Afghanistan, has been ordered.
USCIS has articulated that certain countries, including Afghanistan, lack a competent authority for providing necessary civil documentation, complicating the vetting process for applicants.
President Trump’s Broader Immigration Policy Stance
Following the shooting, President Trump reiterated his commitment to tightening U.S. immigration policies. He announced intentions to “permanently pause migration from all Third World Countries” via social media, stating that his administration would revoke the citizenship of individuals deemed to “undermine domestic tranquility.”
As of now, the White House has not publicly detailed the next steps to implement these directives.
In Conclusion: The Trump administration’s recent measures regarding asylum processes reflect a significant shift in U.S. immigration policy aimed at enhancing safety and security amid public concerns. As this situation develops, the implications for asylum seekers and broader immigration policies will be closely monitored.