On Wednesday 26th November 2025, two National Guard members were shot in Washington DC. Sarah Beckstrom (20) sadly died on the 27th November and Andrew Wolfe (24) remains in critical condition. Beckstrom had volunteered to work the Thanksgiving holiday so her colleagues could spend it with their families. Trump announced this was an ‘act of terror’ and deployed 500 troops more on the streets of Washington.
The suspect, 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, is a member of ‘Zero Unit’, an Afghan-CIA intelligence force facing accusations of war crimes. Lakanwal came to the US through the Operation Allies Welcome, a temporary programme aiding those fleeing the Taliban, an exception to the June travel ban allowing asylum seekers from Afghanistan, following US withdrawal.
The suspect, 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, is a member of ‘Zero Unit’, an Afghan-CIA intelligence force facing accusations of war crimes.
This was the basis for the halt on Afghan asylum claims. Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) were frozen by Secretary of State, Marco Rubio and the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) were asked to not approve or close any applications. Joseph Edlow, director of the USCIS warned that ‘every alien’ should be ‘vetted and screened to the maximum degree’. This was in response to an earlier statement by Trump where he pledged to permanently pause migration from all ‘Third World’ countries and seek mass deportation for all illegal immigrants.
But what does this mean for those in the process of seeking asylum now?
Shawn VanDiver, head of AfghanEvac, said their ‘hearts are absolutely broken’ as the halt put many in an uncertain position. Now, even approved VISAs and green cards from the Biden administration and separated families hoping to seek asylum together are at risk.
While the asylum application allowed listing a spouse and unmarried children under 21, the new restrictions, although still unclear, could block this. Experts have warned families to keep addresses and contact details up to date, respond to requests for evidence and recommend consulting an immigration attorney. However as of this November over 300,000 have returned to Afghanistan, almost 10 times more than 2024.
While the asylum application allowed listing a spouse and unmarried children under 21, the new restrictions, although still unclear, could block this.
Despite no official order to enforce permanent stoppage of asylum seekers from Afghanistan, it has left many with the fear of having to return to violence or becoming separated from their families.
