US Halts All Asylum Decisions After National Guard Killing Triggers Migrant Crackdown
The United States has paused all asylum decisions after the fatal shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, an incident that has prompted President Donald Trump to intensify his hardline stance on immigration. One of the soldiers died from her injuries, sparking renewed political tensions over border policy, national security and the legacy of the Afghanistan conflict.
The attack, which occurred just blocks from the White House on Wednesday, involved Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national who had resettled in the US following the 2021 military withdrawal from Afghanistan. Officials said Lakanwal, once part of a CIA-supported Afghan force combatting the Taliban, drove across the country from Washington State before allegedly opening fire on the two guardsmen.
Asylum decisions frozen nationwide
Joseph Edlow, head of the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), announced on Friday that the agency had “halted all asylum decisions” until it could ensure “maximum” vetting of applicants. The move followed Trump’s late-night declaration that he would “permanently pause migration from all Third World countries” to give the immigration system “time to recover.”
When asked which nationalities would be affected, the Department of Homeland Security referred to a list of 19 countries already subject to US travel restrictions since June — including Afghanistan, Cuba, Haiti, Iran and Myanmar.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio added that the US had temporarily stopped issuing visas to anyone traveling on Afghan passports. “The United States has no higher priority than protecting our nation and our people,” he said.
Suspect faces murder charges; death penalty sought
US Attorney Jeanine Pirro confirmed Friday that Lakanwal would be charged with murder. Attorney General Pam Bondi said prosecutors would seek the death penalty, describing the suspect as a “monster.”
The case has quickly inflamed three contentious political debates: the use of military personnel on US soil, immigration policy, and the complicated legacy of America’s two-decade involvement in Afghanistan.
Green card holders from 19 countries under review
In a further escalation, Trump threatened to reverse “millions” of immigration admissions approved during Joe Biden’s presidency. The USCIS also announced plans to reexamine green cards issued to people from the same 19 countries now flagged by DHS.
According to immigration data analyzed by AFP, more than 1.6 million permanent US residents — around 12% of all green card holders — were born in those countries. Afghanistan alone accounts for over 116,000.
Shawn VanDiver, president of AfghanEvac, condemned the rising restrictions, accusing the administration of exploiting the shooting. “They are using a single violent individual as cover for a policy they have long planned,” he said.
AfghanEvac also disputed Trump’s assertions that the suspect had benefited from lax vetting, saying Afghans resettled after the US withdrawal had undergone “some of the most extensive security screening” of any migrant group. The organization added that while Lakanwal applied for asylum during the Biden administration, his status was granted later, under Trump.
A rapidly evolving crackdown
The White House says the measures are necessary to protect national security; critics argue they amount to sweeping collective punishment based on a single criminal act. With no suspect search underway — Lakanwal was apprehended immediately after the shooting — the focus has shifted to Washington’s rapidly expanding migration freeze.
Investigators continue to piece together Lakanwal’s journey to the capital, as the suspension of asylum processing and visa freezes raise concerns among immigration advocates and thousands of families caught in legal limbo.
