• The Trump administration has paused all asylum decisions and visas for Afghan passport holders.
• The decision follows a deadly shooting of two National Guard members near the White House.
• The suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, faces multiple charges, including first-degree murder.
• The administration is reviewing immigration measures, potentially impacting many legal migrants.
• The situation has sparked criticism from resettlement groups concerning community punishment.

The Trump administration has halted all asylum decisions and paused the issuance of visas for individuals traveling on Afghan passports after a shooting incident near the White House, which resulted in the death of one National Guard member and left another in critical condition. The suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who is a 29-year-old Afghan national, is facing charges including first-degree murder, while investigations are ongoing to determine the motive for the attack, according to latimes and channelnewsasia.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the suspension of visa issuance for all Afghan passport holders in light of the ongoing situation, aiming to intensify efforts to control legal immigration associated with security concerns. This decision comes amid a backdrop of policy changes to restrict entry from some countries, impacting Afghans and other legal migrants already in the U.S., as detailed by indiatimes and latimes.

Lakanwal, who had previously worked with the CIA during the Afghanistan War, applied for asylum during the Biden administration and saw his request granted earlier this year under the Trump administration. The move to halt asylum proceedings has been criticized by some who argue the administration is utilizing this isolated incident to justify broader immigration policies that could unjustly affect a large number of individuals, according to channelnewsasia and indiatimes.

In response to the shooting, two members of the West Virginia National Guard were deployed to Washington, D.C., as part of what Trump has described as a crime-fighting mission. The administration's decision came after serious reflections on the implications for community safety, as highlighted by several officials, and has raised alarm among local and national advocacy groups who fear the repercussions on the Afghan community, as noted in reports from latimes and channelnewsasia.