USCIS Issues Indefinite Pause on All Asylum Decisions

The Trump administration has ordered U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to pause all decisions on asylum applications. This directive, confirmed internally at USCIS and publicly by the agency’s director, follows the shooting of two National Guard soldiers in Washington, D.C. The suspect in the incident is an Afghan national who was granted asylum earlier this year.

What the Pause Means

According to internal USCIS instructions, asylum officers must stop issuing any decisions, no approvals, denials, or case closures, on all affirmative asylum applications, regardless of the applicant’s nationality. Officers may continue interviewing applicants and reviewing files, but must stop once a case reaches the point where a decision would normally be entered.

It is not yet known how long this pause will last; the directive is described as indefinite.

Why the Pause Was Issued

The administration states that additional time is needed to “ensure that every alien is vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible.” In public comments, USCIS Director Joseph Edlow reiterated that the agency is halting decisions until it can reassess current screening processes.

The suspect in the D.C. shooting entered the United States in 2021 through humanitarian parole, a process used to evacuate Afghans after the fall of Kabul. He applied for asylum in 2024, and the application was approved earlier this year. Officials have not publicly indicated any specific link between his case and broader systemic issues, but the administration has used the incident to justify stricter immigration vetting.

Additional Immigration Restrictions Announced

In the days following the shooting, the administration announced a series of broader immigration measures:

  1. Pause on All Immigration Applications From Afghanistan:
     USCIS suspended processing of all application types for Afghan nationals: citizenship, green cards, work permits, and asylum.

  2. Reexamination of Immigration Cases From 19 Countries:
     USCIS began a new review of green card applications involving nationals from countries listed in a June presidential proclamation, often described as a “travel ban.” These include Afghanistan, Iran, Somalia, Sudan, Cuba, Haiti, Venezuela, and others.

  3. New USCIS Policy Allowing Denials Based on Vetting Concerns:
     USCIS issued guidance stating that limited ability to verify identity or obtain reliable documents from certain countries may be grounds to deny a green card or other immigration benefit.

  4. Future Policy Announcements:
     The President announced plans to “permanently pause migration from all Third World Countries” and revoke citizenship from individuals the administration believes “undermine domestic tranquility.” No details have been released on how these proposals would be implemented.

Impact on Asylum Seekers

For individuals with pending asylum cases at USCIS, the most immediate effect is a delay in decisions. Interviews may still proceed, but outcomes will not be issued until the pause is lifted. Applicants with scheduled pick-up appointments should expect cancellations.

Defensive asylum cases, those heard by immigration judges in removal proceedings, are not included in this directive, as those fall under the Immigration Court rather than USCIS.

What Clients Should Do Now

  • Attend all scheduled interviews unless USCIS formally cancels the appointment.

  • Continue gathering evidence and preparing your case. Officers can still review files up to the point of decision.

  • Check for notices from USCIS regarding interview changes or decision-pickup cancellations.

  • Consult with your attorney about any related applications (work permits, travel documents, or family petitions), especially if you are a national of one of the 19 affected countries.


The situation is evolving rapidly. We will continue to provide updates as USCIS releases additional guidance or clarifies how long the pause may continue.