In a major policy change, US immigration authorities have suspended all asylum claim decisions. This action was triggered by a fatal attack on National Guard members in Washington DC this week. The directive from US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) orders its officers to stop issuing final approvals or denials for all pending asylum applications. There is no set date for when this suspension will be lifted.
USCIS Director Joseph Edlow explained the reason for this unprecedented decision. He stated that the pause will continue until the US can guarantee the most thorough background checks and screening for every foreign national. This freeze is one of the most significant interruptions to the American asylum system in recent history, leaving thousands of cases in a state of uncertainty.
The policy was announced shortly after President Donald Trump declared his intention to create a "permanent immigration moratorium" from what he called "third world nations." While the President did not name specific countries, the Department of Homeland Security referred to an existing list of nineteen nations, including Afghanistan, Cuba, and Iran. These events indicate a significant tightening of the administration's immigration stance.
The immediate cause for these changes was a violent incident on Wednesday. According to law enforcement, an Afghan man attacked two National Guard members during their patrol near the White House. One service member died, and the other remains in the hospital in critical condition. This event has renewed debates about national security and immigration checks.
At the same time, the State Department announced it will immediately stop issuing visas to all Afghan passport holders. Secretary Marco Rubio stated that protecting national security and American citizens is the government's most important job.
However, legal experts and immigration activists have expressed serious concerns. They argue that stopping all asylum decisions, for people of all nationalities, may violate international agreements and US laws. Similar policies from this administration have faced legal challenges in the past, suggesting that these new rules will likely be challenged in court.
For now, USCIS officers can continue to process documents but cannot make final decisions. This leaves both the immigration system and the asylum applicants themselves in a difficult and prolonged state of uncertainty.