Trump Administration Halts Visas And Asylum Reviews For Afghans After DC Shooting Incident | World News
The U.S. government has implemented stricter security protocols after the State Department issued an order temporarily suspending visa services for all Afghan passport holders. The move follows a deadly shooting near the White House in Washington, D.C., that claimed the life of a National Guard soldier. It was stated that the suspect in the incident was Afghan national.
Following the DC shooting, the Trump administration tightened immigration policies, marking a significant increase in travel restrictions.
Marco Rubio Announces His Decision
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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the decision in his post on the social media platform X: “President Trump’s State Department has stopped issuing visas to ALL individuals traveling with Afghan passports.”
“The United States has no higher priority than protecting our nation and our people,” he added.
President Trump’s State Department has paused the issuance of visas to ALL individuals traveling with Afghan passports.
The United States has no higher priority than protecting our nation and our people. https://t.co/HuR1Lj7F9t— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) 28 November 2025
In addition, the administration has expanded security measures by ordering an immediate halt to all asylum orders nationwide. Officials described the decision as part of a broader response to the shooting near the White House on Wednesday, according to ANI.
It was reported that one National Guard soldier was shot and killed in the conflict, and another was seriously injured.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Joseph Edlow confirmed that asylum officers were instructed to stop making decisions until a thorough review of each applicant was completed.
Also Read: After White House Attack, Trump Announces Permanent Freeze on Immigration from ‘Third World Countries’
DC Shooting Incident
It was claimed that the attack was carried out by Rahmanullah Lakanwal (29), an Afghan citizen who entered the USA in 2021.
According to ANI, Lakanwal, who was granted asylum earlier this year, is accused of shooting 20-year-old Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, who later died, and Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, is in critical condition.
Following the incident, the government began reevaluating asylum approvals granted under the Biden administration and began reviewing green card applications from citizens of 19 countries previously flagged under a presidential proclamation on security risks.
(with ANI entries)
