The United States said Friday it would pause all asylum decisions following the shooting of National Guard members near the White House.
Joseph Edlow, director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), said asylum decisions would be put on hold “until we can ensure that every alien is screened and screened to the maximum extent possible.”
“The safety of the American people always comes first,” Edlow posted on Twitter.
This decision has been taken after President Donald Trump announced that he would stop migration from “third world countries”.
The move is the latest change in immigration policy after two National Guard soldiers were shot while deployed in Washington, D.C., as part of the administration’s crime crackdown.
Changes in US immigration policy after National Guard shooting
After an Afghan man shot and killed a National Guard member and wounded another in the US capital, officials said they are reviewing all green cards issued to individuals from 19 countries.
The government also halted all immigration applications involving Afghan nationals and began a review of asylum cases approved under the previous Biden administration.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Friday that the State Department has also stopped issuing visas to individuals traveling on Afghan passports.
Edited by: Louis Olofse