USCIS expands from Afghan-only freeze to nationwide pause on all asylum decisions
USCIS initially halted Afghan immigration processing after a D.C. National Guard shooting linked to a man who entered under Operation Allies Welcome, calling the pause "indefinite" while it reviews vetting and security protocols. The agency has since expanded the freeze to all USCIS asylum decisions, ordered reexaminations of green cards from 19 "countries of concern," instituted decision-entry holds and canceled some appointments, and said the pause will remain "until we can ensure that every alien is vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible," while DHS reviews asylum approvals from the prior administration.
đź“Ś Key Facts
- USCIS announced an effective-immediately, indefinite nationwide pause on all asylum decisions while it reviews security and vetting protocols; USCIS Director Joseph B. Edlow said the pause will remain "until we can ensure that every alien is vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible."
- The pause widened from an earlier Afghan-only hold after a D.C. National Guard shooting linked to a suspect who entered the U.S. in 2021 under Operation Allies Welcome; DHS identified the suspect as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who was granted asylum earlier this year and has been reported to have a CIA‑partner force background.
- DHS/USCIS said it will reexamine green cards issued to immigrants from 19 designated "countries of concern" and is reviewing all asylum cases approved under the Biden administration.
- Operational steps tied to the pause include decision-entry holds and cancellation of some asylum decision appointments; the State Department has also paused visa issuance for travelers using Afghan passports.
- Estimates of Afghans resettled under Operation Allies Welcome/Enduring Welcome vary (reported roughly between 76,000 and 190,000); reporting notes more than 40% of arrivals were eligible for Special Immigrant Visas and many were initially paroled for two years subject to screening; Temporary Protected Status for Afghanistan ended in July, affecting about 8,000 enrollees.
- President Trump publicly framed lax migration policies as a top national security threat and called for reexamining Afghans admitted under the prior administration; advocacy groups including AfghanEvac and spokesman Shawn VanDiver condemned the attack while urging against demonizing Afghans or politicizing the incident.
- Some reporting cited a June DOJ OIG review that found "no systemic failures" in Afghan refugee vetting; outlets also reported that the suspect’s asylum approval occurred earlier this year (coverage differs on which administration granted that approval).
đź“Š Relevant Data
In October 2024, Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, an Afghan citizen who entered the United States in September 2021 as part of the Afghan evacuation, was charged with conspiring and attempting to provide material support to ISIS and obtaining firearms and ammunition to conduct a violent terrorist attack on U.S. soil on Election Day 2024.
Audit of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Participation in the Department of Homeland Security’s Operation Allies Welcome — U.S. Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General
Between July 2021 and May 2023, the Terrorist Screening Center processed approximately 3,300 terrorist watchlist encounters for Afghan evacuees, resulting in 231 individuals positively matched to the watchlist.
Audit of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Participation in the Department of Homeland Security’s Operation Allies Welcome — U.S. Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General
In 2022, 61 percent of Afghan immigrants aged 16 and older were in the civilian labor force, compared to 67 percent for all immigrants and 63 percent for the U.S.-born population.
Afghan Immigrants in the United States — Migration Policy Institute
In 2022, 37 percent of Afghan immigrant women were in the civilian labor force, compared to 57 percent for all foreign-born women; this disparity is partly due to longstanding educational barriers for women in Afghanistan, particularly in rural areas.
Afghan Immigrants in the United States — Migration Policy Institute
From 2012 to 2018, undocumented immigrants in Texas had lower felony arrest rates compared to native-born U.S. citizens and legal immigrants across a range of offenses.
Comparing crime rates between undocumented immigrants, legal immigrants, and native-born US citizens in Texas — Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
đź“° Sources (7)
- USCIS Director Joseph B. Edlow publicly stated the pause will remain 'until we can ensure that every alien is vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible.'
- Edlow said USCIS will reexamine green cards issued to immigrants from every 'country of concern,' including Afghanistan.
- DHS is reviewing all asylum cases approved under the Biden administration and has already halted immigration requests from Afghanistan, according to the article.
- The State Department has paused visa issuance for individuals traveling on Afghan passports.
- Fox News reports the suspect’s asylum application was approved earlier this year by the Trump administration, and cites a DOJ OIG report (June) finding 'no systemic failures' in Afghan refugee vetting.
- The pause now applies to all USCIS asylum cases, not just Afghan applicants.
- Operational details include decision-entry holds and cancellation of some decision appointments.
- Official confirmation and quote from USCIS Director Joe Edlow.
- Scope widened beyond Afghans: USCIS will reexamine all green cards held by immigrants from 19 'countries of concern.'
- DHS says it is reviewing all asylum cases approved under the Biden administration.
- Context: The D.C. shooting suspect entered via Operation Allies Welcome in 2021 and was granted asylum earlier this year.
- Axios specifies the pause was posted by USCIS on X and described as 'effective immediately' and 'indefinite' pending vetting protocol review.
- Adds scale/context: State Department estimate that ~190,000 Afghans resettled under Operation Allies Welcome and Enduring Welcome.
- Notes that more than 40% of arrivals were eligible for SIVs and that most initial arrivals were paroled for two years subject to screening.
- Links the pause directly to the D.C. shooting suspect’s OAW entry and CIA-partner force background.
- President Trump labeled lax migration policies the 'single greatest national security threat' in a video statement following the D.C. Guard shooting.
- Article links Trump’s remarks to USCIS’s subsequent announcement that it would indefinitely pause Afghan immigration processing pending a vetting review.
- Adds reaction from #AfghanEvac’s Shawn VanDiver cautioning against politicizing the incident.
- Restates specific context that roughly 76,000 Afghans entered under Operation Allies Welcome and that the suspect arrived in September 2021.
- USCIS states the halt is 'indefinite' pending a review of security and vetting protocols.
- DHS publicly identified the suspect as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who entered the U.S. in 2021 under Operation Allies Welcome.
- President Trump said the U.S. should reexamine every Afghan who entered under Biden and remove any 'who does not belong here or add benefit.'
- Advocacy group AfghanEvac condemned the attack but urged against demonizing Afghans, noting they undergo extensive vetting.
- Context figures: upward of 85,000 Afghans resettled under Operation Allies Welcome; TPS for Afghanistan ended in July, affecting about 8,000 enrollees.