Washington, DC— The Trump administration has sharply escalated immigration restrictions following a deadly shooting near the White House, announcing an immediate freeze on visa issuance for anyone traveling on an Afghan passport and a nationwide halt on asylum rulings.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the visa suspension in a post on X, declaring that President Trump had ordered a complete pause on issuing visas to Afghan passport holders. He said the move reflects the administration’s priority of safeguarding national security.
The State Department earlier released a statement stressing that visa issuance for Afghan passport holders had been “immediately paused” and that every necessary step was being taken to strengthen public safety. Hours later, the administration widened its security response by ordering an instant halt to all asylum decisions across the country.
US Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Joseph Edlow said asylum officers had been instructed to stop issuing rulings until updated vetting protocols are completed for every applicant. He noted that the freeze would remain in place until officials are confident that all individuals are thoroughly screened.
The measures come in the aftermath of Wednesday’s shooting near the White House, where 20-year-old Specialist Sarah Beckstrom was fatally shot and 24-year-old Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe critically injured. The suspect, 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, is an Afghan national who entered the United States in 2021 and was granted asylum earlier this year.
Following the attack, federal agencies began reassessing asylum approvals issued during the Biden administration and initiated a review of green card applications from nationals of 19 countries previously identified under a presidential security-risk proclamation.
President Trump intensified the administration’s stance in a late-night post on Truth Social, announcing that migration from economically weaker nations would be suspended and that citizenship could be revoked for individuals deemed a threat to domestic stability. He further said that foreign nationals considered security risks or “non-compatible with Western Civilization” would face deportation.
Doubling down on his message, Trump called for what he labeled “reverse migration,” arguing that millions of legally residing immigrants were contributing to economic and social strain. He ended his statement with a Thanksgiving message that excluded those he accused of harming American values.
