The Trump administration has ordered an immediate halt to all asylum decisions following the fatal shooting of two National Guard soldiers in Washington, D.C., a move that significantly escalates the government’s immigration crackdown.
US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Joseph Edlow announced the suspension on Friday in a post on X, saying the pause would remain in effect “until we can ensure that every alien is vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible.”
The directive came hours after President Donald Trump vowed to “permanently pause migration” from all “third world countries,” though he did not specify which nations might be included.
Legal experts have warned that such a sweeping measure could face immediate court challenges, and international agencies, including the UN, have begun voicing concern.
The suspension follows Wednesday’s attack in which two National Guard members were shot, one of whom died on Thursday. Authorities have blamed the shooting on an Afghan national, though few details about the suspect or the investigation have been publicly released.
According to reporting by CBS News, USCIS officers have been instructed not to approve, deny, or close any asylum applications regardless of nationality.
Internal guidance reportedly tells officers they may continue reviewing cases, but must stop once a final decision is reached: “Once you’ve reached decision entry, stop and hold.”
The move adds to a series of hardline immigration actions undertaken during Trump’s second term. The administration has already pushed for mass deportations of people in the U.S. without legal status, proposed deep cuts to the annual refugee admissions cap, and moved to end birthright citizenship for most children born on U.S. soil.
While the full scope of the new asylum freeze remains unclear, the decision marks one of the most sweeping disruptions to the U.S. asylum system in decades and is expected to leave thousands of applications in immediate limbo.
Source: BBC
Written By Rodney Mbua
