Move comes after Afghan national allegedly ambushed National Guard members in the US capital.
The United States has announced a sweeping freeze on visas for individuals travelling on Afghan passports, along with an immediate pause on all asylum decisions, following a deadly attack near the White House that claimed the life of a young National Guard member.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that visa issuance for Afghan passport holders has been “paused immediately”, citing national security concerns.
The DC Ambush Attack
The suspected attacker, Rahmanaullah Lakanwal, who arrived under the Biden-era Operation Allies Welcome, allegedly shot two National Guard members:
- Sarah Beckstrom, 20 later died of injuries
- Andrew Wolfe, 24 remains in critical condition
The CIA revealed that Lakanwal previously worked with a CIA-backed unit in Afghanistan before being resettled in the United States after the 2021 withdrawal.
Murder Charges Upgraded
US Attorney Jeanine Pirro confirmed upgraded charges including:
- First-degree murder
- Two counts of assault with intent to kill while armed
The attack has intensified scrutiny on Afghan immigration pathways and resettlement vetting processes.
USCIS Freezes All Asylum Rulings
The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a halt on all asylum decisions “until maximum vetting standards are ensured.”
Director Joseph Edlow said the agency is conducting a full review of all green cards issued to immigrants from “countries of concern,” including Afghans admitted under humanitarian programs.
Trump’s Broad Immigration Agenda
President Donald Trump has doubled down on restrictive immigration measures, vowing to:
- Reassess green card applications from 19 countries,
- Suspend immigration from “all Third World countries,”
- Denaturalize migrants considered threats to “domestic tranquillity,”
- Deport individuals deemed “non-compatible with Western civilization.”
Advocacy groups warn that the freeze could leave thousands of Afghans stranded, with visa and asylum processes stalled indefinitely.