USCIS halts ‘all asylum decisions’ after DC shooting of National Guard members
In a significant policy shift, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on Friday that it is suspending all asylum decisions following a tragic shooting incident in Washington, D.C. An Afghan national, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, has been accused of shooting two National Guard members, resulting in the death of 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom and leaving 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe in critical condition. USCIS Director Joseph B. Edlow emphasized that the safety of American citizens is paramount, stating that the asylum process will remain on hold until thorough vetting procedures can be ensured. This decision comes amid a broader immigration crackdown initiated by President Donald Trump, who recently expressed intentions to halt migration from “Third World countries” and undo the immigration policies established during the Biden administration.
In addition to halting asylum decisions, the Department of Homeland Security has ceased all immigration requests from Afghanistan, while the Department of State has immediately paused visa issuance for individuals traveling on Afghan passports. This comprehensive review of immigration protocols is being conducted in light of the shooting, with Edlow directing a rigorous reexamination of green cards for immigrants from countries deemed “of concern,” including Afghanistan. Notably, Lakanwal entered the U.S. legally in 2021 under humanitarian parole as part of the Biden administration’s Operation Allies Welcome, which facilitated the relocation of Afghan allies following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. Despite being vetted by the CIA and having his asylum application approved earlier this year, the recent events have raised significant concerns about the vetting process for Afghan refugees.
The alleged shooter, Lakanwal, faces serious charges, including first-degree murder, and Attorney General Pam Bondi has indicated that the Justice Department will pursue the death penalty. Interestingly, a report from the Department of Justice’s Office of the Inspector General released in June found no systemic failures in the vetting processes for Afghan refugees. This situation underscores the complexities surrounding immigration and national security, as the government grapples with ensuring public safety while honoring commitments made to those who aided the U.S. during its military operations abroad. As the investigation continues, the implications of this incident will likely reverberate through U.S. immigration policy for the foreseeable future.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOE8SBIvjV8
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on Friday that it has halted all asylum decisions following the shooting in Washington, D.C., in which an Afghan national was accused of shooting two National Guard members, including one who died from her injuries.
USCIS Director Joseph B. Edlow said the asylum decisions would be suspended “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,” he wrote on X.
The pause comes amid a broader immigration crackdown signaled by President
Donald Trump
, who on Thursday vowed to halt migration from “Third World countries” and reverse Biden-era admissions.
STATE DEPARTMENT ‘IMMEDIATELY’ HALTS ALL AFGHAN PASSPORT VISAS FOLLOWING DEADLY NATIONAL GUARD ATTACK
Edlow said on Thursday that officials would reexamine green cards issued to immigrants from every “country of concern,” including Afghanistan. USCIS also implemented new national security measures to be considered while vetting immigrants from “high risk” countries.
“I have directed a full scale, rigorous reexamination of every Green Card for every alien from every country of concern,” he wrote.
The Department of Homeland Security also said it had already halted all
immigration requests
from Afghanistan and was in the process of reviewing all asylum cases approved under the Biden administration.
Additionally, the Department of State has paused all visas for people traveling on Afghan passports in response to the attack against the National Guard members.
“The Department of State has IMMEDIATELY paused visa issuance for individuals traveling on Afghan passports,” the agency wrote. “The Department is taking all necessary steps to protect U.S. national security and public safety.”
National Guard member Sarah Beckstrom, 20, of West Virginia,
died after the shooting
on Wednesday in the nation’s capital, while the second service member wounded in the attack, Andrew Wolfe, 24, is still in critical condition.
The alleged gunman, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, faces multiple charges, including one count of first-degree murder and two counts of assault with intent to kill while armed. Attorney General Pam Bondi said that the Justice Department would pursue the death penalty against the suspect.
WHO IS THE DC NATIONAL GUARDSMEN SHOOTING SUSPECT? WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT AFGHAN NATIONAL RAHMANULLAH LAKANWAL
Lakanwal entered the U.S. legally in 2021 under humanitarian parole as part of the Biden administration’s Operation Allies Welcome, following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.
He was
vetted by the CIA
in Afghanistan for his work with the agency and again for his asylum application in the U.S. A senior U.S. official told Fox News he was “clean on all checks” in his background check.
Lakanwal had his asylum application approved by the Trump administration earlier this year.
A report released by the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General in June found there were “no systemic failures” in Afghan refugee vetting or subsequent immigration pathways.
Eric
Eric is a seasoned journalist covering US Politics news.
