The United States has temporarily halted all asylum rulings following the fatal shooting of two National Guard soldiers in Washington, DC. USCIS Director Joseph Edlow announced that decisions will remain on hold “until every applicant is vetted and screened to the highest standard.”
The pause came shortly after President Donald Trump vowed to “permanently pause migration” from what he called “third world countries.” An Afghan national has been accused in Wednesday’s attack, which left one service member dead.
According to internal guidance obtained by CBS News, asylum officers may continue reviewing cases but cannot approve, deny, or close applications for any nationality at this time.
The White House has not clarified which countries could face expanded migration restrictions, but the move is expected to face legal challenges. UN agencies have already expressed concern.
The administration has adopted increasingly strict immigration measures during Trump’s second term, including expanded deportations, reduced refugee admissions, and efforts to end birthright citizenship.
Following the shooting, the US also suspended all immigration processing for Afghans pending a review of security protocols. A day later, USCIS said it would re-examine green cards issued to migrants from 19 countries. These include Afghanistan, Cuba, Haiti, Iran, Somalia, and Venezuela, though details of the review remain unclear.
Trump later pledged to cut “all federal benefits and subsidies” for noncitizens, saying it would help the country “recover” and protect Americans’ living conditions.
