Officials instructed to halt all asylum decisions following National Guard shooting

The Trump administration has instructed U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officers to temporarily halt all asylum decisions in response to the shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, D.C., according to internal documents obtained by CBS News and confirmed by sources familiar with the directive.

The decision represents the administration's latest effort to strengthen the U.S. immigration system after the attack, which authorities say was carried out by an Afghan man who had been granted asylum earlier this year.

USCIS officers were told not to approve, deny, or close any asylum cases while the internal pause is in effect. Sources emphasized that this guidance was not publicly announced. On Thursday, the administration announced a review of asylum approvals issued under the Biden administration, citing security concerns following the shooting, in which one National Guard member died.

The alleged shooter, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, is an Afghan national who arrived in the U.S. in 2021 under the Biden administration's policies and received asylum in spring 2025. The internal guidance issued Friday puts an indefinite hold on all asylum adjudications, regardless of nationality.

Asylum applications are filed by individuals claiming persecution in their home countries due to factors such as race, nationality, religion, or political beliefs. The directive instructed officers: "Do not enter any decision information for affirmative cases." Defensive cases, filed by individuals facing deportation, are handled by federal immigration judges within the Justice Department.

The pause applies to all USCIS asylum applications, including those from Afghans resettled under the Biden-era "Operation Allies Welcome." In-person appointments for applicants to check case updates were also canceled, at least for Monday. Officers were allowed to continue interviews and case reviews up to the point of making a decision, but then stop.

USCIS Director Joseph Edlow confirmed the reporting, stating: "USCIS has halted all asylum decisions 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."

Homeland Security officials said Lakanwal entered the U.S. in September 2021 through humanitarian parole, part of efforts to resettle tens of thousands of Afghans after the Taliban takeover. He applied for asylum in 2024, which was granted earlier this year.

Following the shooting, the Trump administration introduced measures it says will reduce the risk of similar incidents. USCIS previously paused processing all legal immigration applications from Afghanistan, including citizenship, green cards, work permits, and asylum.

Edlow also announced a "full-scale review" of green card cases for nationals from 19 countries affected by a presidential proclamation limiting travel and immigration. The list includes Afghanistan, Iran, Somalia, Sudan, Cuba, Haiti, and Venezuela. New guidance allows adjudicators to deny cases if they cannot properly verify applicants identities or documents due to weak civil authorities in their home countries.

Late Thursday, Trump declared on social media that migration from "Third World Countries" would be permanently paused, and that citizenship revocation and deportations could occur for individuals deemed security risks or incompatible with U.S. values. The White House has not detailed how these measures would be implemented.

Analysis: Temporary Halt on Asylum Decisions

The Trump administration's directive to pause all asylum decisions marks a significant shift in U.S. immigration policy. According to internal USCIS guidance, officers are instructed not to approve, deny, or close any asylum cases, effectively freezing the system while a review is conducted. The decision follows the shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, D.C., by an Afghan national who had been granted asylum earlier this year.

This pause applies universally to all asylum applications, including those submitted under Biden-era programs such as "Operation Allies Welcome." USCIS Director Joseph Edlow emphasized that the halt is intended to maximize vetting and ensure public safety. Officers may continue interviews and case reviews but cannot issue any final decisions until further notice.

In parallel, the administration announced a review of green card cases from 19 countries, citing difficulties in verifying identities due to weak civil authorities. These combined measures indicate a broader tightening of immigration controls, with potential implications for tens of thousands of pending applications.

While the directive is framed as a security measure, it also underscores a policy shift toward stricter scrutiny of asylum and immigration claims, raising questions about processing delays and access for vulnerable applicants. The White House has yet to provide detailed implementation plans for long-term enforcement actions mentioned in public statements.

Sources:

• Officials told to pause all asylum decisions in wake of National Guard shooting