The move follows an incident in which an Afghan national attacked two guards near the White House.

US President Donald Trump has said his administration will continue its pause on asylum decisions indefinitely, a move announced after a shooting incident near the White House that left one National Guard member dead and another critically injured.

Also Read: US pauses visas for Afghan passport holders, freezes asylum processing

The attack took place on November 26, when 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national who later obtained U.S. citizenship, allegedly opened fire near the White House. Authorities say Lakanwal had previously been part of a CIA-backed partner force in Afghanistan and entered the United States during the 2021 evacuation. He was granted asylum in April 2025 but is now charged with first-degree murder.

The incident prompted an immediate halt to refugee and asylum processing, with the Department of Homeland Security linking the suspension to a list of 19 countries that already face various U.S. travel restrictions, including Afghanistan, Cuba, Haiti, Iran, and Myanmar.

Also Read: Trump plans to permanently pause immigration from Third World countries

Asked how long the pause would remain in place, Trump said he had no timeline in mind and indicated the administration intended to keep the restrictions in place for an extended period. He also criticised the vetting of Afghans evacuated during the Biden administration, saying the U.S. should not admit individuals who pose security risks.

Following the attack, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the U.S. would stop issuing visas to anyone traveling on an Afghan passport. Federal prosecutors have indicated that additional charges may be filed against Lakanwal as the investigation progresses.

Trump, describing the shooting as an act driven by hatred and violence, said the administration would take broader steps to tighten entry rules and reassess migration from what he termed “high-risk countries.”