U.S. Pauses All Asylum Decisions After Soldier Shooting Near White House

The United States has announced a sweeping freeze on all asylum decisions and visa issuances for Afghan passport holders, as a deadly attack on two National Guard soldiers near the White House sparks a broader crackdown on immigration. The move announced on Friday by the director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the U.S. Department of State (DoS)  represents a major shift in U.S. migration policy following the shooting incident that left one soldier dead and another critically wounded. 

On Wednesday, two National Guard members were shot near a security checkpoint in Washington, D.C. one died, and the other remains in serious condition. Authorities have identified the suspect as a 29-year-old Afghan national, triggering immediate nationwide alarm. 

In response, USCIS director Joseph B. Edlow declared that “all asylum decisions” would be halted “until we can ensure that every alien is vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible.” Meanwhile, the State Department announced a suspension of visa issuance for individuals holding Afghan passports.

The freeze applies broadly affecting pending asylum applications, new filings, and Afghan nationals overseas seeking visas. Officials say the suspension will remain in effect until updated vetting protocols are in place. 

The administration frames the freeze as a necessary security measure. In a broader statement, President Donald J. Trump described the shooting as a “terrorist attack,” arguing that it was preventable and casting doubt on the reliability of asylum-granting procedures. The crackdown is part of what the government describes as a renewed effort to curb migration from “countries of concern.” 

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reportedly also ordered a full review of green cards and asylum approvals granted to individuals from 19 countries including Afghanistan, Cuba, Haiti, Iran and Myanmar. 

Immigrant-rights organisations, refugee advocates, and human-rights groups have sharply criticised the decision. They argue that it penalises large numbers of people many of them fleeing real persecution  for the actions of a single individual. They warn the blanket freeze may lead to indefinite uncertainty for asylum seekers and push vulnerable populations back into dangerous situations. 

Critics also point out that the suspect in the shooting had undergone extensive vetting when he was first admitted to the United States under the earlier humanitarian resettlement programme, calling into question whether additional measures would meaningfully improve security. 

The Washington Post

Some immigration analysts note that while the halt to asylum decisions will likely compound already massive backlogs which numbered over 1.4 million affirmative asylum cases by the end of 2024 this freeze may, in practice, delay rather than prevent decisions. Still, those awaiting verdicts or hope of resettlement face increased uncertainty. 

The freeze has drawn reactions globally, especially from countries that host large numbers of refugees and migrants. Many fear it signals a wider shift toward restrictive immigration policies in the U.S., potentially influencing immigration regimes worldwide. For individuals who fled conflict zones seeking asylum, the move represents a sharp turn from earlier years when the United States was seen as a refuge.

Refugee-support NGOs have urged the U.S. to reconsider the blanket policy, advocating instead for case-by-case review, stronger screening protocols, and broader engagement with international resettlement agencies. Some warn the freeze could worsen humanitarian crises in regions where displaced persons are already vulnerable.