U.S. freezes asylum processing after fatal shooting near White House

Authorities have charged Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29 year old Afghan national, with first degree murder and two counts of armed assault with intent to kill following a shooting near the White House that left Specialist Sarah Beckstrom dead and Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe critically wounded. Investigators said they are still working to determine motive and to assemble a full picture of the suspect’s background, noting that he entered the United States under earlier evacuation programs.

The White House announced a halt to all asylum decisions and a pause in the issuance of visas for Afghan passport holders as part of a broader review of legal immigration procedures in response to the attack. Administration officials framed the measures as temporary safety checks, but the moves immediately tightened flows at a time when U.S. immigration systems already face political pressure and operational strain.

Domestic security officials and federal prosecutors are converging on a criminal and administrative response. The criminal case now moves through federal court, while immigration agencies are reviewing screening and vetting procedures for evacuees and other entrants. Lawmakers pressed for swift answers, and resettlement groups warned that pauses in asylum adjudication and visa processing could aggravate humanitarian bottlenecks and delay family reunifications for people already in the pipeline.

The decision to pause asylum decisions carries broader economic and social implications. Asylum and refugee flows are a small but important component of migration related labor supply, particularly in health care, agriculture and service sector jobs where foreign born workers help fill shortages. Interruptions in processing create uncertainty for employers planning hires, for relocation and legal services firms, and for charities that sponsor and integrate newcomers. Travel and mobility industries may see a near term reduction in demand tied to stricter visa issuance.

Beyond immediate market effects, policymakers face a dilemma between tighter security screening and the long run benefits of immigration. Evacuation programs since recent U.S. military drawdowns have brought tens of thousands of Afghans to the United States, prompting debates over vetting timelines, integration resources and legal pathways. A policy that lengthens screenings or narrows asylum eligibility could reduce short run risk but would also slow labor market adjustments and raise costs for states and localities managing resettlement.

Resettlement organizations described a surge of calls and concern at their centers, noting that administrative pauses tend to magnify backlogs at a time when asylum adjudication has been a political flashpoint. Legal experts say the freeze will prompt litigation and oversight hearings as affected applicants and advocacy groups challenge restrictions and seek clarity on criteria.

Investigators said they will continue to probe the suspect’s records, social contacts and travel history to establish motive and any potential connections. In the coming days Congress and the administration are likely to debate operational changes at the intersection of criminal justice and immigration policy. The incident is poised to shape the balance between security priorities and the United States commitment to legal immigration for weeks and possibly months to come.