General · 29 November 2025
US halts asylum decisions after shooting in DC
The Trump administration announced Friday it is halting all asylum claim decisions indefinitely following a fatal shooting of National Guard members in Washington D.C. by an Afghan national. The suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, entered the US in 2021 through a Biden-era program and received asylum approval under Trump in April 2025. One soldier died and another remains critical. Officials cited security concerns and announced additional vetting measures for applicants from 19 high-risk countries while pausing visa issuance for Afghan passport holders.
Reported by CBS News · How we write briefs