On what date did USCIS announce it would pause all asylum decisions following the National Guard shooting in Washington, D.C.?

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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced on November 28, 2025, that it was pausing all asylum decisions in response to a shooting that killed National Guard Specialist Sarah Beckstrom in Washington, D.C. The announcement came on Thanksgiving Day, just hours after President Trump posted on Truth Social that he would "permanently pause migration from all Third World Countries." USCIS Director Joseph Edlow stated that all asylum decisions were being halted "until we can ensure that every alien is vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible." The timing of the announcement was significant because it came before any formal executive order was published in the Federal Register, indicating the administration was moving quickly to implement restrictions in response to the incident. The pause affected both affirmative asylum cases handled by USCIS and created uncertainty for the broader immigration system.

On what date did USCIS announce it would pause all asylum decisions following the National Guard shooting in Washington, D.C.?

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