Trump orders pause on asylum decisions after attack on National Guard

The Trump administration ordered a nationwide pause on asylum decisions after two National Guard members were shot this week in Washington, DC.

The order was handed down to officers with US Citizenship and Immigration Services on Friday, according to an internal memo obtained by CBS News.

This is the latest effort by President Donald Trump to clamp down on immigrants coming to the United States, this time spurred on by Wednesday's attack near the White House, which was allegedly perpetrated by a 29-year-old Afghan immigrant Rahmanullah Lakanwal.

USCIS asylum officers will now refrain from approving, denying or closing asylum applications that are received. 

After CBS News reported on the new policy stance, the State Department added that immigration from Afghanistan will receive extra scrutiny.

'The Department of State has IMMEDIATELY paused visa issuance for individuals traveling on Afghan passports. The Department is taking all necessary steps to protect US national security and public safety,' the agency wrote on X.

Officials said Lakanwal entered the country during President Joe Biden's chaotic military withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021.

He was granted entry under a program called Operation Allies Welcome, which sought to provide safe haven to Afghans looking to flee Taliban rule in their country.

The West Virginia National Guard members that were shot were Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24.

Trump announced on Thursday that Beckstrom had died, while Wolfe was in critical condition as of Friday.

Because Lakanwal entered the country under Biden's watch, the Trump administration is now reviewing all asylum approvals during the Biden era.

Lakanwal, who is expected to be charged with first-degree murder, was granted asylum by the Trump administration sometime this year after applying in 2024. 

The pause ordered by Trump means that people in countries who are suffering from persecution or state violence won't have the opportunity to get their asylum claims fully processed.

In-person appointments for asylum seekers will be canceled, at least for this coming Monday, the directive from the White House said.

Instructions to USCIS officers made clear that they could continue working asylum cases up until the point that a final decision needs to be made.

'Once you've reached decision entry, stop and hold,' the directive said.

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USCIS Director Joe Edlow confirmed that all asylum decisions would be paused but did not offer a strict timeline for when they might resume.

'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,' he said on X.

Edlow said on Thursday that he had ordered a 'full scale, rigorous reexamination' of green card cases involving nationals from Trump's 'travel ban' issued in June.

It was a list of 19 countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, Somalia, Sudan, Cuba, Haiti, Venezuela and a number of other nations in the Middle East and Asia.

'Certain countries (including but not limited to Afghanistan, Eritrea, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, and Venezuela) lack a competent or central authority for issuing passports and civil documents among other concerns, which directly relates to USCIS' ability to meaningfully assess eligibility for benefit requests including identity, and therefore whether an alien warrants a favorable exercise of discretion,' according to guidance issued Thursday by the USCIS.

Meanwhile, Trump said on Truth Social that he will 'permanently' pause immigration from all 'third world countries.'

He intends to 'end all Federal benefits and subsidies to noncitizens of our Country, denaturalize migrants who undermine domestic tranquility, and deport any Foreign National who is a public charge, security risk, or non-compatible with Western Civilization'.