USCIS halts ‘all asylum decisions’ after DC shooting of National Guard members
In a significant policy shift following a tragic incident in Washington, D.C., the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced a halt to all asylum decisions. This decision comes in the wake of an alleged shooting by Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national, who is accused of shooting two National Guard members, resulting in the death of one and leaving another in critical condition. USCIS Director Joseph B. Edlow emphasized the need for heightened vetting and screening of immigrants, stating, “The safety of the American people always comes first.” This pause in asylum decisions reflects a broader immigration crackdown initiated by President Donald Trump, who recently pledged to reverse Biden-era immigration policies and limit migration from what he refers to as “Third World countries.”
In addition to the suspension of asylum applications, the Department of Homeland Security has halted all immigration requests from Afghanistan and is reviewing previous asylum approvals under the Biden administration. The Department of State has also taken immediate action by pausing all visa issuances for individuals traveling on Afghan passports. This response underscores a heightened focus on national security and public safety in light of the shooting incident. The alleged shooter, Lakanwal, entered the U.S. legally in 2021 under humanitarian parole and was vetted by the CIA both in Afghanistan and during his asylum application process. Despite being cleared during background checks, the current administration’s actions signal a shift towards a more cautious approach regarding immigration from countries deemed high-risk.
The tragic shooting incident that sparked these sweeping changes involved National Guard member Sarah Beckstrom, who was killed, and Andrew Wolfe, who remains in critical condition. Lakanwal faces serious charges, including first-degree murder, and the Justice Department has indicated its intent to seek the death penalty. This situation has raised questions about the effectiveness of the vetting process for Afghan refugees, particularly in light of a June report from the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General that found no systemic failures in the vetting of Afghan refugees. As the U.S. government reevaluates its immigration policies, the implications for asylum seekers and refugees from Afghanistan remain uncertain, highlighting the ongoing tension between national security concerns and humanitarian commitments.
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.
