Afghan Visa Suspension: Why was there a sudden halt in Afghan visa and asylum decisions immediately after the DC shooting? Have any security threats emerged? Why the Trump Admin’s High-Alert Order Freezed the Immigration System Overnight – Questions Many, Answers Still Secret.
Washington DC. The shooting near the White House in America last week has shaken the entire system. Two National Guard soldiers were seriously injured in the attack, and just hours later the Trump administration took major action, immediately halting all visas issued on Afghan passports and all asylum processing across the country. This decision came suddenly and surprised millions of people. The question being raised is what is the connection between the firing and the visa-asylum ban? Has there been any major security input? Or is this a precautionary measure that may have further implications?
Big shock in US immigration system
After the DC National Guard shooting in America, there has been a big shock in the US immigration system. The Trump administration has ordered an immediate halt to visa issuance for Afghan passport holders, while USCIS has halted all asylum adjudications nationwide. Officials say that this step has been taken under the immediate needs of “National Security”. This entire incident has raised many serious questions related to American national security, migration system and internal intelligence.
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Did the DC shooting raise alarm bells in the US security system?
Shooting begins just a few blocks from the White House. With the firing, many government buildings are put into lockdown. Chaos breaks out at the scene, and federal agencies immediately go into high-alert mode. Federal investigators are still searching for the suspect. Two officials said the incident accelerated the already ongoing security review.
Amidst this review, the government took two decisions: to stop issuing all visas on Afghan passports and to stop all asylum decisions of USCIS until further orders. Both these decisions were taken on the same day, which clearly shows the seriousness of the administration.
Why were Afghan visas suddenly stopped? Is there any intelligence alert somewhere?
- The statement issued by the State Department late at night was short but very strict.
- It was written in it that this step is necessary to protect “US National Security and Public Safety”.
- However, it was not made clear as to which intelligence or what kind of threat this decision was taken.
- But it was definitely told that this order is immediately applicable to all foreign posts around the world.
This will have the biggest impact-
- students
- family reunification people
- Special Case Travelers
Who had already booked their appointment.
Would a freeze on asylum decisions bring the migration system to a halt?
- USCIS has been ordered to pause all asylum decisions, complete interviews, but make no final decision
- Immigration lawyers are warning that this will lead to a huge backlog.
- Also, thousands of people will be affected due to delay in decisions for a long time.
- Many experts are saying that such steps taken in response to a security incident are not immediately reversible – it often takes months.
Is the Trump administration going to change the entire structure of the migration system?
According to sources, the internal weaknesses of the refugee pipeline and asylum system are being re-assessed. Officials say this is a temporary step, but its impact could be big and lasting. There have been high-level discussions within the Trump administration, and any changes will be decided only after the inter-agency security assessment is completed.