Trump halts asylum decisions indefinitely following deadly National Guard attack; sweeping visa and green-card reviews launched as security concerns mount.
U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered an indefinite freeze on all asylum decisions in the wake of a deadly shooting near the White House by an Afghan national, triggering immediate halts to Afghan visas and prompting a wider audit of green-card approvals — a move sources describe as one of the most sweeping immigration crackdowns in decades.
Key Points
- All asylum applications across the U.S. are now on hold indefinitely, following the Supreme Court guard shooting.
- Afghan visa issuance has been paused immediately, affecting thousands of pending cases.
- A full re-examination of green cards from 19 countries deemed “of concern” has been ordered by USCIS.
- The decision is driven by the arrest of an Afghan national, reportedly granted asylum earlier this year, accused of killing a National Guard member.
- Immigration rights and international law advocates warn the broad freeze undermines due process and punishes innocent asylum seekers.
Washington, DC (Star Struck Times) — President Trump announced Sunday that his administration is pausing all asylum decisions indefinitely after a 29-year-old Afghan national, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, allegedly shot two members of the United States National Guard near the White House on November 26, killing one and critically wounding the other. One of the soldiers, 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom, later died; the other remains hospitalized.
US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), citing the incident, said in a statement that officers have been ordered to halt approvals, denials, or closures of asylum applications “until we can ensure that every alien is vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible.”
The arrest of Lakanwal — who was reportedly admitted under the 2021 Afghan resettlement program and granted asylum in April 2025 — has fueled a broader crackdown. In addition to freezing asylum claims, the U.S. has suspended visas for Afghan passport holders and begun a full re-examination of green cards issued to individuals from 19 countries previously identified as security concerns.
Soon after the shooting, Trump took to media and social channels, pledging to “permanently pause migration from all Third World countries” until the immigration system is fully overhauled. He offered no timetable for lifting the freeze. “We have enough problems… many of them have been no good, and they shouldn’t be in our country,” he asserted.
USCIS Director Joseph Edlow reaffirmed the pause, promising rigorous vetting. “The safety of the American people always comes first,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter). He said asylum cases will remain on hold until new security measures are in place.
Critics warn the move targets entire refugee and immigrant communities for the actions of one individual. As one immigrant-rights advocate commented to media, “Freezing asylum for everyone punishes the innocent while addressing a crime committed by a single man.” Others point out that Lakanwal’s asylum was granted under the current administration, raising questions about how broad-brush the response now is.
Even as the White House argues the freeze is necessary for national security, international bodies like the United Nations are urging the U.S. to maintain refugee protections and due process — warning that mass suspensions set dangerous precedents.
For asylum seekers — including thousands of Afghan refugees and applicants from other flagged nations — the freeze brings uncertainty. Pending cases may now face indefinite delays, and visa issuance remains blocked for Afghan passport holders. Green-card holders and those already granted asylum are likely to face rigorous re-investigations.
Domestic reaction is mixed: supporters of Trump applaud the hardline stance on immigration, while civil-rights and refugee-advocacy groups decry what they call “collective punishment.” Meanwhile, some legal analysts warn the freeze could trigger challenges in U.S. courts on the grounds of human rights and due process.
The freeze marks a major escalation in the Trump administration’s immigration agenda and could reshape U.S. asylum policies for years to come. As investigations continue into the shooting and questions swirl around immigration vetting practices, the immediate fate of thousands of asylum and visa applicants remains unclear.
FAQs
Q: Who ordered the asylum freeze?
A: President Donald Trump, backed by the Department of Homeland Security and USCIS Director Joseph Edlow.
Q: Why was the freeze imposed?
A: The decision follows a shooting near the White House in which an Afghan national allegedly killed a National Guard member and wounded another — raising security concerns and prompting a review of vetting procedures.
Q: Does the freeze apply only to Afghans?
A: No — all asylum decisions across the U.S. are halted. However, Afghan passport visas are specifically suspended, and green-card reviews target nationals from 19 “countries of concern.”
Q: How long will the freeze last?
A: President Trump said there is no fixed timeline; he indicated it could remain in place “a long time.”
Q: What happens to pending asylum seekers and green-card holders?
A: Their applications are in limbo. Some green-card holders may face reevaluation; visa-applicants from certain countries remain barred.
Stay tuned to Star Struck Times for real-time updates on immigration policy, asylum freeze developments, and how global refugee communities are responding — follow now so you don’t miss the next twist.
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