The Trump administration has ordered an immediate pause to all US asylum decisions following the shooting of two National Guard soldiers in Washington, DC, calling it a necessary step to protect the American people.
US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Joseph Edlow confirmed the halt on Friday, saying officers have been instructed to stop issuing asylum rulings until every applicant can be vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible.
“This pause will stay in place until we can ensure that every alien is properly vetted. The safety of the American people always comes first,” Edlow said in a statement posted on X.
The move comes after Wednesday’s attack near the White House, where 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national resettled in the United States in 2021, allegedly shot two members of the West Virginia National Guard. Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, died of her injuries; Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, remains in critical condition. Lakanwal had been granted asylum earlier this year during the Trump administration.
The administration has rolled out a series of immigration actions since the attack. On Thursday, officials announced a review of all asylum approvals issued under the Biden administration. USCIS also began reexamining green card applications from nationals of 19 countries previously flagged under a June presidential proclamation restricting travel on security grounds.
