Trump Administration Halts Asylum Decisions Following Deadly Shooting

Fri Dec 05 2025 14:39:22 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In the wake of a tragic shooting incident near the White House that left one National Guard member dead, the Trump administration has announced a pause on asylum decisions and visa issuance for Afghan passport holders.

The shooting, attributed to an Afghan national who previously worked with the CIA, has prompted a nationwide halt in asylum determinations and Afghan visa processes. The actions are perceived as part of a broader agenda by the Trump administration to intensify immigration restrictions. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro disclosed that further charges against the shooting suspect are forthcoming as investigations continue. The National Guard member who died was noted for her leadership and dedication, while community leaders criticize the administration’s blanket policy changes affecting Afghan migrants.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration has halted all asylum decisions and paused issuing visas for people traveling on Afghan passports days after a shooting near the White House that left one National Guard member dead and another in critical condition.

Investigators continued Saturday to seek a motive in the shooting, with the suspect a 29-year-old Afghan national who worked with the CIA during the Afghanistan War. He now faces charges, including first-degree murder. The man applied for asylum during the Biden administration and was granted it this year under Trump, according to a group assisting with the resettlement of Afghans who aided U.S. forces.

The Trump administration has seized on the shooting incident to pledge intensified efforts to restrict legal immigration. This includes pauses on entry from certain low-income countries and a review of Afghan and other legal migrants currently residing in the U.S.

Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, died from her injuries sustained in the Wednesday shooting, while Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, was hospitalized in critical condition. Both were deployed with the West Virginia National Guard as part of Trump’s crime-fighting mission. The president has also attempted to deploy National Guard members to other cities as part of his mass deportation policy, facing some legal challenges.

U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro’s office stated that the charges against Rahmanullah Lakanwal also include two counts of assault with intent to kill while armed. She mentioned there were “many charges to come” in an interview.

Asylum Decisions Halted

Trump denounced the shooting as a “terrorist attack” and criticized the Biden administration for enabling Afghan nationals' entry who supported U.S. forces.

Joseph Edlow, director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, announced on X that asylum decisions are paused “to ensure that every alien is vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible.” Despite claims of rigorous vetting systems for asylum-seekers, critics argue that backlogs, worsened during the Trump administration, hinder the asylum claim process.

Additionally, Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the suspension of “visa issuance for ALL individuals traveling on Afghan passports.” Shawn VanDiver, president of #AfghanEvac, criticized the administration's actions as using a single violent incident to justify broad punitive measures against an entire community.

The Suspect

Lakanwal resided in Bellingham, Washington, with his wife and five children. Neighbors described him as polite and quiet, sharing that he had been struggling with employment issues before his disappearance.

Lakanwal had briefly worked for Amazon Flex this summer. Reports indicate he entered the U.S. in 2021 through Operation Allies Welcome, a program initiated by the Biden administration to facilitate Afghan resettlements post-U.S. withdrawal. He had served in a CIA-backed Afghan Army unit and was later granted asylum under the Trump administration.

Remembering Specialist Beckstrom

Beckstrom, who enlisted in 2023 after graduating high school, served with distinction as a military police officer. The West Virginia National Guard honored her as someone who exemplified leadership, dedication, and professionalism during her deployment.