The Trump administration has implemented an immediate suspension of all asylum adjudications in response to the fatal shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, D.C. this week. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Joseph Edlow announced the comprehensive pause, stating the measure will remain until “every alien is vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible.”
This security-driven policy shift follows President Trump’s Thursday declaration of intent to “permanently pause migration” from unspecified “Third World Countries.” Concurrently, the State Department instituted an immediate visa issuance ban for all Afghan passport holders. Secretary of State Marco Rubio affirmed this action through social media, emphasizing that “The United States has no higher priority than protecting our nation and our people.”
The administration’s response continues restrictive immigration patterns established in June when Trump issued a proclamation banning travel from twelve predominantly African and Middle Eastern nations. In his recent statements, the president outlined aggressive measures including terminating “all of the millions of Biden illegal admissions,” removing individuals deemed “not a net asset to the United States,” ending federal benefits for noncitizens, and deporting foreign nationals considered security risks.
The policy changes directly respond to Wednesday’s attack by Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national who entered the U.S. in 2021 and received asylum approval in April 2025. Investigation sources reveal Lakanwal previously served in Afghanistan’s Zero Unit, an elite force collaborating with CIA and Joint Special Operations Command personnel while targeting U.S. counterterrorism objectives.
President Trump has characterized the incident as underscoring “the greatest national security threat facing our nation,” prompting deployment of National Guard troops to Washington and several Democrat-led cities including Chicago and Portland. These actions have historically faced opposition from Democratic lawmakers and immigration advocates who argue the administration exaggerates security concerns while rejecting vulnerable families seeking protection.