The United States has announced an immediate suspension of visa issuance for all individuals traveling on Afghan passports, following a deadly shooting targeting two National Guard members. In a parallel move, the Trump administration has also halted all asylum application decisions until further notice—marking one of the toughest immigration measures in recent years.
Visa Freeze Announced After Attack on National Guard
On Friday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed through a post on X that visas for Afghan passport holders had been stopped without delay.
“There is no priority greater than the safety of our nation and our people,” Rubio wrote, underlining the seriousness of the government’s response.
The decision comes just days after two National Guard members were shot in Washington, D.C. One of them died on the spot, while the other remains in critical condition.
Asylum Decisions Also Put on Hold
In addition to the visa suspension, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it is temporarily halting decisions on asylum applications.
USCIS Director Joseph Edlow stated that officers have been instructed not to issue any asylum-related orders until “maximum vetting and screening” of every applicant is completed.
This marks a significant tightening of America’s immigration and refugee policy.
The Attacker Was an Afghan Evacuee Brought in 2021
U.S. federal officials confirmed that the shooter, identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, is an Afghan national who had been brought to the United States under President Biden’s ‘Operation Allies’ evacuation mission in 2021, following the withdrawal of Western forces from Afghanistan.
The CIA further verified that Lakanwal had previously worked with the agency in Afghanistan before being relocated to the U.S.
Murder Charges Upgraded
The charges against Lakanwal have now been upgraded to first-degree murder, along with two additional counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill.
The attack has triggered intense political and security debate, with the Trump administration positioning the new measures as essential for national security.
A Turning Point in US Immigration Policy
These rapid decisions—visa suspension for Afghan passport holders and a freeze on asylum adjudication—suggest a major shift in immigration policy under President Trump. With growing concerns over insider threats and security lapses, the administration appears determined to enforce strict screening and heightened scrutiny across all immigration channels.
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