USCIS has suspended all asylum decisions following a shooting incident involving an Afghan national that resulted in the death of a National Guard member in Washington, D.C.
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced a halt to all asylum decisions after an Afghan national was accused of shooting two National Guard members in Washington, D.C., resulting in the death of one service member.
On Friday, USCIS Director Joseph B. Edlow stated that the suspension of asylum decisions would remain in effect “until we can ensure that every alien is vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible.” He emphasized the priority of American safety in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This pause in asylum decisions aligns with a broader immigration crackdown initiated by President Donald Trump. On Thursday, Trump pledged to halt migration from “Third World countries” and to reverse the admissions policies established during the Biden administration.
In a related development, Edlow indicated that officials would be reexamining green cards issued to immigrants from countries deemed concerning, including Afghanistan. USCIS has also introduced new national security measures to enhance the vetting process for immigrants from high-risk nations.
“I have directed a full-scale, rigorous reexamination of every Green Card for every alien from every country of concern,” Edlow stated.
Additionally, the Department of Homeland Security confirmed that it has suspended all immigration requests from Afghanistan and is reviewing all asylum cases that were approved under the Biden administration.
The Department of State has also acted swiftly, pausing all visa issuances for individuals traveling on Afghan passports in response to the shooting incident involving the National Guard members. “The Department is taking all necessary steps to protect U.S. national security and public safety,” the agency stated.
The shooting occurred on Wednesday, resulting in the death of National Guard member Sarah Beckstrom, 20, from West Virginia. Another service member, Andrew Wolfe, 24, remains in critical condition following the attack.
The alleged shooter, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, has been charged with multiple offenses, including first-degree murder and two counts of assault with intent to kill while armed. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that the Justice Department would seek the death penalty against Lakanwal.
Lakanwal entered the United States legally in 2021 under humanitarian parole as part of the Biden administration’s Operation Allies Welcome, which was established following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. He had been vetted by the CIA in Afghanistan due to his work with the agency and underwent additional vetting for his asylum application in the U.S. A senior U.S. official informed Fox News that Lakanwal was “clean on all checks” in his background investigation.
Notably, Lakanwal’s asylum application was approved by the Trump administration earlier this year. A report from the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General released in June indicated that there were “no systemic failures” in the vetting process for Afghan refugees or subsequent immigration pathways.
The recent shooting has raised significant concerns regarding the vetting processes for immigrants and asylum seekers, prompting federal agencies to reevaluate their procedures to ensure national security.
Source: Original article