Following a tragic shooting in Washington, D.C., that resulted in the death of a National Guard member and injury to another, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced a temporary halt to asylum approvals. The move comes after an Afghan national, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who entered the U.S. legally in 2021, was accused of the crime.
USCIS Director Joseph B. Edlow stated the pause is necessary to ensure every applicant undergoes the most thorough screening possible, emphasizing the priority of American safety. The State Department has also put a stop to issuing visas for individuals traveling with Afghan passports.
These actions follow calls for a more cautious approach to immigration, with concerns raised about the vetting processes for individuals entering the country, particularly from regions with potential security risks. Officials are now reexamining green cards issued to immigrants from “countries of concern,” including Afghanistan, and implementing stricter national security measures for vetting immigrants from “high-risk” countries.
The alleged shooter, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, had his asylum application approved earlier in the year. He had previously been vetted by the CIA in Afghanistan and again during his asylum application process in the U.S.
