(NewsNation) — The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services has stopped all “asylum decisions” until further notice.
USCIS Director Joseph B. Edlow issued a statement on Friday evening, confirming the decision.
“USCIS has halted all asylum decisions until we can ensure that every alien is vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible,” Edlow wrote. “The safety of the American people always comes first.”
Earlier, officials from the Department of Homeland Security officials said that Trump had ordered a widespread review of asylum cases approved under Biden’s administration and Green Cards issued to citizens of 19 countries.
Afghan visa pause
The State Department also announced Friday night that visa issuances would be paused for those traveling with Afghan passports following the arrest of Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal, suspected of shooting two National Guard members blocks from the White House.
Lakanwal entered the U.S. in September 2021 through the program “Operation Allies Welcome.”
In FY 2025, as of May, the State Department issued 1,188 visas to Afghan nationals. Roughly 80% — 959 of them — were Special Immigrant Visas for individuals who worked for or on behalf of the U.S. government.
In June, the administration restricted entries from 19 countries — 12 fully and 7 partially — with Afghanistan on the full-restriction list.
Recent reporting shows about 40,000 Afghans are seeking to relocate, with roughly 10,000 already approved and vetted.
“The Department of State has IMMEDIATELY paused visa issuance for individuals traveling on Afghan passports,” the X post read. “The Department is taking all necessary steps to protect U.S. national security and public safety.”
Trump vows permanent pause of migration from developing nations
President Trump said Thursday that his administration will work to “permanently pause” migration from all “Third World Countries” to allow the U.S. system to fully recover.
“I will permanently pause migration from all Third World Countries to allow the U.S. system to fully recover, terminate all of the millions of Biden illegal admissions, including those signed by Sleepy Joe Biden’s Autopen, and remove anyone who is not a net asset to the United States,” he said on Truth Social.
Trump and Vice President Vance slammed the Biden administration for presiding over the immigration policy that welcomed Afghan refugees, while USCIS immediately suspended all immigration applications from Afghan nationals.
Attorney General Pam Bondi said they are seeking the death penalty for Lakanwal after the shooting of Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and 24-year-old Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe. Beckstrom died of her injuries.
Reports allege Lakanwal previously served in one of Afghanistan’s elite counterterrorism units, according to #AfghanEvac, a nonprofit run by U.S. veterans and others who served in Afghanistan.
NewsNation partner The Hill contributed to this report.