The United States government has announced an immediate pause on issuing visas to anyone traveling with an Afghan passport, marking a major escalation in President Donald Trump’s immigration restrictions. The decision follows a deadly attack in Washington, DC, that resulted in the death of a National Guard member and critically injured another.

The US State Department said the move was necessary to protect “public safety,” while US immigration authorities confirmed they are halting all asylum decisions nationwide until further notice.

State Department Announces Sudden Suspension of Afghan Visa Issuance

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on X that the department had “paused visa issuance for ALL individuals traveling on Afghan passports,” emphasizing that safeguarding American citizens remains the government’s top priority.

The announcement came less than 48 hours after authorities identified Rahmanaullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national, as the suspect in a shooting that targeted two National Guard soldiers near the White House.

Details of the Deadly Attack

The attack occurred on Wednesday when Lakanwal allegedly ambushed West Virginia National Guard soldiers Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and Andrew Wolfe, 24, while they were on patrol. Beckstrom later died from her injuries, while Wolfe remains in critical condition.

The case has gained national attention not only because of the attack’s location but also because the CIA confirmed that Lakanwal had previously worked for the agency in Afghanistan before being brought to the US after the 2021 troop withdrawal.

On Friday, US Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro announced upgraded charges, including first-degree murder and two counts of assault with intent to kill.

US Immigration Agencies Suspend Asylum Decisions Nationwide

In a separate statement, US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Joseph Edlow said the agency is halting all asylum rulings as part of an expanded security review.

Edlow said every asylum, refugee, and permanent residency case from “countries of concern” will undergo renewed examination. This follows Trump’s directives calling for “maximum vetting” of immigrants.

Trump Calls Shooting a ‘Terrorist Attack’, Orders Broad Immigration Review

President Trump has described the Washington, DC, shooting as a “terrorist attack” and used the incident to justify sweeping new immigration measures.
He has sharply criticized the Biden-era program Operation Allies Welcome, through which Lakanwal entered the United States.

In recent days, Trump has ordered:

• A re-examination of green cards issued to citizens of 19 unspecified “countries of concern”
• A temporary bar on immigration from what he called “all Third World countries”
• Plans to strip citizenship from immigrants who he says “undermine domestic tranquillity”

He also stated that the US would deport any foreign citizen considered a security risk or who is deemed not “compatible with Western civilization.”

A New Phase in the Trump Administration’s Immigration Crackdown

Since returning to office in January, Trump has rapidly rolled out aggressive immigration policies. In October, the administration announced that it would accept only 7,500 refugees in 2026, the lowest refugee ceiling in more than four decades.

Analysts say the latest moves—pausing Afghan visas and freezing asylum decisions—represent the most far-reaching immigration restrictions implemented so far during Trump’s second term.

The new policies are expected to affect thousands of Afghan nationals, many of whom worked with US forces and are still seeking safe entry to the United States following the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.