The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has suspended the granting of all asylum decisions in the country due to national security concerns after a shooting incident involving an Afghan national in Washington, D.C. The agency will henceforth review and vet all pending asylum applications, with more stringent screening for applicants from all countries in line with current federal immigration protocols.
USCIS Suspends Asylum Decisions Nationwide
The Trump administration has ordered a nationwide halt to all asylum decisions, directing U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to pause approvals, denials, and closures of every pending case. USCIS Director Joseph Edlow said the suspension will remain in place until the agency can confirm that every applicant is vetted and screened to the “maximum degree possible.”
Asylum officers may continue reviewing files and preparing cases, but no final decisions can be issued. The directive applies to applicants from all nationalities, creating one of the broadest interruptions of asylum processing in modern U.S. immigration policy.
According to federal officials, the pause is a precautionary measure to reinforce national security standards and allow agencies to update their vetting systems.
Security Concerns and Federal Response
The announcement follows a shooting in Washington, D.C., that killed one National Guard member and left another critically injured. Authorities identified the suspect as an Afghan national who had entered the United States in 2021 through a program granting protection to those who had worked alongside American forces in Afghanistan.
President Donald Trump framed the attack as a severe national security threat and promised to pursue a “permanent pause” in migration from what he called “third-world countries.” The administration’s response includes a series of newly announced immigration measures; each focused-on tightening review procedures and re-evaluating past admissions.
These actions included a temporary halt to Afghan immigration processing, a review of green cards granted to immigrants from 19 countries, and a broader effort to scrutinize refugees admitted during the prior administration. Officials have argued that earlier systems did not meet the security standards they intend to apply now.
The about-face has been decried by international advocates and agencies of the United Nations, which have called on the United States to adhere to international law protecting asylum seekers and to avoid policies that could disproportionately impact individuals already vetted through extraordinary screening measures.
Implications for Asylum Seekers
The national pause leaves thousands of asylum applicants in prolonged uncertainty. Individuals with pending claims will not move forward to interviews or decisions until USCIS finalizes updated vetting procedures. Processing times, already long for many applicants, may get longer.
Legal professionals say asylum seekers often include people fleeing conflict zones or those who assisted in U.S. operations abroad. Advocates caution that broad pauses should consider the humanitarian conditions of the time and not add additional burdens to those already navigating complex legal processes.
It has not yet been confirmed by the USCIS whether there will be new steps in screening, interview requirements, or document reviews under the latest procedures.
Looking Ahead
The suspension of asylum decisions marks another significant step in the administration’s broader effort to reconsider immigration policies and expand national security vetting. More guidance is expected as federal agencies define the scope and timeline of the review.
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