Trump Administration Pauses Afghan Visa Issuance and Asylum Decisions After White House Shooting
November 30, 2025
The Trump administration has stopped all asylum decisions and paused visa issuance for people with Afghan passports. This move came after a shooting near the White House left one National Guard member dead and another critically injured. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Friday that his department paused "visa issuance for ALL individuals traveling on Afghan passports."
Investigators continue to look for the motive behind the shooting. Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, the suspect, faces first-degree murder charges and two counts of assault with intent to kill while armed. He is a former CIA worker during the Afghanistan War and was granted asylum this year under the Trump administration after applying during the Biden administration.
Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, died from her injuries. Staff Sgt Andrew Wolfe, 24, remains in critical condition. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro told Fox News, "there were many charges to come."
Joseph Edlow, director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, said asylum decisions will remain paused "until we can ensure that every alien is vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible."
The Trump administration promises stricter controls on legal immigration, including pausing entry from some poor countries and reviewing Afghans and other migrants already in the U.S. Experts note that U.S. vetting for asylum-seekers has always been strict, though processing backlogs exist.
Read More at Timesofindia →
Tags:
Trump administration
Afghan Passports
Asylum Pause
White House Shooting
Rahmanullah Lakanwal
Immigration policy
Comments