The Biden-era visa and asylum system shifted dramatically on Friday after the U.S. State Department announced an immediate halt on issuing visas to anyone traveling on Afghan passports.
The brief statement, released late in the evening, said the move was necessary to “protect U.S. national security and public safety” and would stay in place until a full review is completed. Officials did not reveal what intelligence led to the sudden order but confirmed it applies to all U.S. embassies and consulates.
This directive was issued only hours after CBS News reported that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) had internally ordered officers to pause all asylum rulings nationwide. According to the report, officers were told the freeze was effective immediately and would remain until further notice.
Three senior officials told CBS the instruction followed high-level discussions within the Trump administration after two National Guard soldiers were critically injured in a shooting near the White House earlier this week.
The Department of State has IMMEDIATELY paused visa issuance for individuals traveling on Afghan passports.
The Department is taking all necessary steps to protect U.S. national security and public safety.
— Department of State (@StateDept) November 28, 2025
Asylum Freeze Linked to D.C. National Guard Shooting
While the Department of Homeland Security did not directly confirm the link, two officials said the violent attack “shifted the urgency” of ongoing security reviews. Federal investigators are still searching for the suspect responsible for opening fire on National Guard members, triggering temporary lockdowns around the White House, Treasury Department, and nearby federal buildings.
Inside the government, officials said the administration is now reassessing vulnerabilities in refugee admissions and asylum processing. The USCIS pause affects every asylum office in the country. Credible-fear interviews for detained migrants will continue, but officers have been instructed to finish scheduled interviews without issuing any final decisions.
Major Impact Expected for Afghan Travelers
The State Department’s Afghan-visa suspension is expected to hit thousands of applicants, including students, family-reunification cases, and special humanitarian travelers who already had appointments. Diplomats overseas were instructed to inform applicants their cases cannot move forward “under present authorities.”
Afghanistan’s embassy in Washington has not commented.
Immigration lawyers warn the asylum freeze could create a major backlog, even if the pause is temporary. Analysts noted that security-related immigration changes often stay in place for months. For now, the Trump administration says the measures are precautionary and will be reviewed after interagency security assessments are complete.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the directives on X, stating that “the United States has no higher priority than protecting its country and people.”
President Trump’s State Department has paused visa issuance for ALL individuals traveling on Afghan passports.
The United States has no higher priority than protecting our nation and our people. https://t.co/HuR1Lj7F9t
— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) November 28, 2025
Shooting Triggered National Security Review
The policy shift comes days after an Afghan national fatally shot National Guard member Sarah Beckstrom (20) and injured Andrew Wolfe (24) near the White House on November 26. They were on patrol only blocks from the executive mansion when the gunman opened fire. Trump was not in the White House at the time.
The shooter was identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who entered the U.S. under a resettlement program initiated during the Biden administration and later received asylum under Trump. According to investigators, Lakanwal traveled across the country before shooting the two Guardsmen with a powerful revolver. He was wounded in a gunfight with responding troops.
Trump Vows Sweeping Immigration Changes
In response to the attack, Trump announced he would “permanently pause” migration from “all Third World countries,” end what he called “illegal admissions” from the Biden era, and block federal benefits for non-citizens. He also pledged to deport foreign nationals considered security risks and “denaturalize migrants who undermine domestic tranquility.”
