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The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Providers (USCIS) introduced on Friday that it has halted all asylum choices following the taking pictures in Washington, D.C., during which an Afghan nationwide was accused of taking pictures two Nationwide Guard members, together with one who died from her accidents.
USCIS Director Joseph B. Edlow stated the asylum choices can be suspended “till we are able to be sure that each alien is vetted and screened to the utmost diploma doable.”
“The security of the American folks all the time 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 nations” and reverse Biden-era admissions.
STATE DEPARTMENT ‘IMMEDIATELY’ HALTS ALL AFGHAN PASSPORT VISAS FOLLOWING DEADLY NATIONAL GUARD ATTACK
Nationwide Guard members Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and Andrew Wolfe, 24, have been shot in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. (United States Legal professional’s Workplace for the District of Columbia/Chip Somodevilla/Getty Pictures)
Edlow stated on Thursday that officers would reexamine inexperienced playing cards issued to immigrants from each “nation of concern,” together with Afghanistan. USCIS additionally carried out new nationwide safety measures to be thought-about whereas vetting immigrants from “excessive danger” nations.
“I’ve directed a full scale, rigorous reexamination of each Inexperienced Card for each alien from each nation of concern,” he wrote.
ATF and Secret Service officers are seen after two Nationwide Guard troopers have been shot close to the White Home in Washington, D.C., Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025. (Evan Vucci/AP)
The Division of Homeland Safety additionally stated it had already halted all immigration requests from Afghanistan and was within the strategy of reviewing all asylum instances authorised beneath the Biden administration.
Moreover, the Division of State has paused all visas for folks touring on Afghan passports in response to the assault towards the Nationwide Guard members.
“The Division of State has IMMEDIATELY paused visa issuance for people touring on Afghan passports,” the company wrote. “The Division is taking all vital steps to guard U.S. nationwide safety and public security.”
Nationwide Guard member Sarah Beckstrom, 20, of West Virginia, died after the taking pictures on Wednesday within the nation’s capital, whereas the second service member wounded within the assault, Andrew Wolfe, 24, continues to be in important situation.
The alleged gunman, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, faces a number of fees, together with one rely of first-degree homicide and two counts of assault with intent to kill whereas armed. Legal professional Common Pam Bondi stated that the Justice Division would pursue the loss of life penalty towards the suspect.
WHO IS THE DC NATIONAL GUARDSMEN SHOOTING SUSPECT? WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT AFGHAN NATIONAL RAHMANULLAH LAKANWAL
Undated file picture of Rahmanullah Lakanwal, the suspect within the taking pictures of two Nationwide Guard troopers in Washington, D.C., November 26, 2025. (Supplied by Division of Justice)
Lakanwal entered the U.S. legally in 2021 beneath humanitarian parole as a 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 company and once more for his asylum utility within the U.S. A senior U.S. official instructed Fox Information he was “clear on all checks” in his background test.
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Lakanwal had his asylum utility authorised by the Trump administration earlier this yr.
A report launched by the Division of Justice Workplace of the Inspector Common in June discovered there have been “no systemic failures” in Afghan refugee vetting or subsequent immigration pathways.
