What are the US immigration restrictions ordered by Trump admin after shooting of National Guard members by Afghan national

Here are some major changes announced since last week:

All asylum decisions suspended

After the attack by an Afghan national on the National Guard members, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) suspended all asylum decisions and the director of USCIS, Joseph Edlow, in a post on social media informed that the decision has been paused “until we can ensure that every alien is vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible.”

USCIS has halted all asylum decisions until we can ensure that every alien is vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible. The safety of the American people always comes first.

— USCIS Director Joseph B. Edlow (@USCISJoe) November 28, 2025

The right to apply for asylum was already restricted by the Trump administration after the Republican leader returned to the White House in January this year. Trump had signed an executive order in January which halted asylum for people who came to the United States through the southern border. Edlow’s post suggests the asylum process, which is overseen by the USCIS, will now come under further scrutiny.

No visas for Afghan nationals

The USCIS on November 26 announced that it would be suspending all “immigration requests relating to Afghan nationals,” adding to other stricter measures being directed at Afghans after the attack on National Guard members. The decision is bound to affect Afghans who are already residing in the United States and applying for green cards or work permits or permission to bring in their family members in the country.

The Secretary of State Marco Rubio also announced that visa issuance has been temporarily halted for all people travelling on Afghan passports by the State Department until a further order is issued.

One of the avenues for Afghan nationals that remained open was the Special Immigrant Visa program which was created by Congress and allowed Afghans who supported the US war effort in Afghanistan and faced retribution to emigrate to America but the State Department’s announcements means it has also been closed.

Review of refugees admitted under Biden administration

The Trump administration had been planning a sweeping review of tens of thousands of immigrants who entered the United States during former President Joe Biden’s tenure as part of the US Refugee Assistance Program.

🔥 @PressSec: The Trump admin has paused all asylum adjudications and Special Immigrant Visas — programs that many Afghans used to enter the United States during the Biden administration.

President Trump's mass deportation operation CONTINUES. pic.twitter.com/LR3IwVTApk

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) December 2, 2025

The program, which was first launched in 1980, was suspended by the president as soon as he took office in January and since then only a handful of refugees have been admitted to the US, including white South Africans.

The Trump administration, even before the Washington DC shootout, was in the process of reviewing all refugees admitted to America during the Biden administration which was nearly 200,000. Advocates have said that refugees already undergo a rigorous vetting process.

(with inputs from AP)