A week after two National Guard members were shot in Washington, D.C. by a suspect identified as an Afghan national, the Trump administration has announced a sweeping series of immigration restrictions, pausing asylum decisions, tightening scrutiny of green card holders, and halting all Afghan visa processing.
Officials said the measures are intended to bolster national security in the wake of the attack, which involved an Afghan asylum recipient. The administration has since unveiled actions that significantly limit the ability of certain foreign nationals to enter or remain in the United States.
1. Asylum Decisions Suspended
USCIS Director Joseph Edlow announced that all asylum decisions have been paused pending enhanced vetting measures. No formal agency guidance has been issued, leaving operational details unclear. The suspect in the D.C. shooting had reportedly been granted asylum earlier this year.
2. Heightened Scrutiny for ‘Countries of Concern’
Edlow said USCIS has begun a comprehensive reexamination of all green cards issued to individuals from “countries of concern.” Updated guidance issued on November 27 could make it harder for people from 19 high-risk nations—including Afghanistan—to obtain or renew immigration benefits. Travel from many of these countries is already restricted.
3. Afghan Immigration Requests Frozen
USCIS announced a full suspension of all immigration benefits connected to Afghan nationals, affecting green card petitions, work permits, and family reunification cases. Secretary of State Marco Rubio separately confirmed that the State Department has halted visa issuance for anyone traveling on an Afghan passport.
4. Review of Refugees Admitted Under Biden
Days before the shooting, the administration had already begun planning a review of nearly 200,000 refugees admitted during the Biden administration. A leaked memo from November 21 shows the government intends to reexamine their vetting, despite advocates noting that refugees already undergo extensive screening.
5. Potential Expansion of Travel Ban
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem signaled a possible new travel ban targeting countries she accused of sending “killers, leeches, and entitlement junkies” to the U.S. She did not name the countries or provide a timeline, but DHS officials said an announcement is forthcoming.
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