U.S. Halts All Asylum Decisions: What This Means and Who Is Affected

In a major immigration policy shift, the United States has paused all asylum decisions as of November 28, 2025. The announcement came shortly after the shooting of National Guard members near the White House, an incident involving an Afghan national. In response, the administration directed immigration agencies to halt decisions until new, heightened vetting procedures can be implemented.

Official Statement From USCIS Leadership

On November 28, 2025, USCIS Director Joseph Edlow issued a public statement announcing the nationwide pause on asylum decisions. His announcement, shared publicly via social media and confirmed to multiple news outlets, stated:

“USCIS has halted all asylum decisions until we can ensure that every alien is vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible.”— Joseph Edlow, Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Edlow’s statement was made in the immediate aftermath of the shooting of two National Guard members near the White House, an incident involving an Afghan national. Officials confirmed to reporters that the freeze applies across all nationalities and has no announced end date.

Does the Asylum Freeze Apply to Everyone?

Yes. Current reporting shows the pause applies broadly to all nationalities, not just Afghans. USCIS has instructed asylum officers to place all pending affirmative asylum applications on hold, even those that were already interviewed and awaiting final decisions. No approvals or denials will be issued until the pause lifts.

The administration also announced a “reexamination” of immigration benefits previously granted to people from 19 “countries of concern,” which includes Afghanistan.

How Long Will the Pause Last?

At this time, there is no stated end date. Officials have not released a timeline or criteria for when asylum adjudications might resume. News outlets describe the halt as open-ended, with some advocacy groups calling it effectively indefinite.

This comes amid an already massive backlog of more than 1 million pending asylum applications. With no clear guidance, many applicants and families face extended uncertainty.

What About Afghan Visas?

In addition to the asylum freeze, the U.S. has paused visa issuance for individuals traveling on Afghan passports. This affects a wide range of applicants:

• New visa applicants

• Individuals already in the processing pipeline

• Applicants under programs such as the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV), commonly used by Afghans who assisted U.S. operations

• Family-based petitions and other immigration pathways involving Afghan passport holders

Reports also indicate that prior approvals for Afghans — including some green card and asylum cases — may be reassessed under new security reviews.

What This Means Moving Forward

For now, asylum seekers from all countries will see their cases remain frozen until federal agencies complete their review and issue updated protocols. Afghan nationals face additional delays through the visa freeze and expanded background checks.

As more details emerge, applicants and their families should continue monitoring official announcements from USCIS and the U.S. State Department for updates on when processing may resume.