President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that the US freeze on asylum decisions will endure for a long time, with no set end date. This move follows a fatal shooting by an Afghan asylum seeker that killed one National Guard member and wounded another. The policy halts processing for over 2.2 million pending claims, raising alarms for Afghan refugees in Pakistan and South Asia.
Trump Asylum Freeze to Last ‘A Long Time’, Says President
The Trump asylum freeze took effect immediately after the November 26 shooting in Washington DC. Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national, faces charges of first-degree murder in the death of 20-year-old National Guard member Sarah Beckstrom. Another soldier remains in critical condition. Lakanwal entered the US in 2021 under Operation Allies Welcome, a programme for Afghan allies post-withdrawal. Officials granted him asylum in April 2025.
Trump addressed the incident from Palm Beach, Florida. He stated the freeze aims to let the US immigration system recover fully. “We do not want those people. You know why we do not want them? Because many have been no good, and they should not be in our country,” Trump said. He described the measure as a permanent pause on migration from all Third World countries.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed the halt in a statement to CNN. It noted prior restrictions on entries from Afghanistan. DHS pointed to a list of 19 countries facing travel curbs since June, including Afghanistan, Cuba, Haiti, Iran, and Myanmar. These nations now fall under the broader Trump asylum freeze.
US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Joseph Edlow announced the pause on X. “USCIS has halted all asylum decisions until we can ensure that every alien is vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible,” Edlow posted. This stops approvals, denials, or closures on all applications. Officers may review files but cannot finalise them.
Data from Syracuse University’s Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse shows 2.2 million immigrants await asylum outcomes as of August 2025. The freeze affects them all. USCIS also plans to re-examine green cards from the 19 countries of concern. The State Department paused visa issuance for Afghan passport holders on Friday.
Trump Asylum Policy Afghanistan: Roots in 2021 Withdrawal Fallout
The Trump asylum policy Afghanistan ties directly to the chaotic US exit from Kabul in August 2021. Over 76,000 Afghans arrived via Operation Allies Welcome by mid-2022. Many, like Lakanwal, served in CIA-backed forces against the Taliban. Lakanwal fought as part of a partner force before resettlement.
Biden-era vetting drew blame from Trump officials. They claim lax checks allowed risks to enter. Lakanwal applied for asylum under Biden but received approval in April 2025, under Trump’s second term. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said on Sunday the suspect radicalised in the US. She faulted Biden policies, despite the Trump-era grant.
Afghanistan tops the 19-country list under DHS restrictions. The Trump asylum freeze now blocks new claims from there. This extends prior limits on refugee admissions. A White House executive order from January 2025 suspended US Refugee Admissions Programme entries until reviews complete. It took effect January 27, 2025, at 12:01 am EST.
UN officials urged the US to honour asylum treaties. Reuters reported the call on Friday. The freeze risks stranding Afghans fleeing Taliban rule. Over 1.2 million displaced since 2021, per UN estimates.
US Asylum Halt Impact Pakistan: Stranded Refugees Face Uncertainty
The US asylum halt impact Pakistan grows acute with 1.4 million Afghan refugees hosted there. Pakistan hosts the world’s largest Afghan refugee population, per UNHCR data from October 2025. Many seek US resettlement after fleeing Taliban persecution.
Islamabad repatriated 600,000 Afghans since October 2023 under its Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan. The remaining face deportation risks by March 2026. The Trump asylum freeze dashes hopes for those in the US pipeline. Over 20,000 Afghans in Pakistan hold Special Immigrant Visas or asylum referrals, according to UNHCR.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office issued a statement on November 29. It expressed concern over the freeze’s effects on bilateral ties. “We urge the US to consider humanitarian needs of Afghan allies,” the office said. No formal protest followed yet.
Refugee advocates in Islamabad warn of secondary migration. Stranded Afghans may turn to Europe or stay in Pakistan, straining resources. PKR 15 billion in UN aid supports camps in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa this year. The halt could spike irregular crossings into Iran or Turkey.
One UNHCR report from September 2025 notes 40% of Afghan refugees in Pakistan aim for US resettlement. The freeze leaves them in limbo. Local NGOs report delays in family reunifications already.
Trump Immigration Ban South Asia: Broader Regional Ripples
The Trump immigration ban South Asia extends beyond Afghanistan. It signals tighter scrutiny for Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh. Trump vowed in January 2025 to end asylum for illegal border crossers. His executive order revoked Biden-era policies on migration frameworks and family reunifications.
South Asia sent 45,000 asylum seekers to the US in fiscal 2025, per DHS data. Pakistan led with 12,000 claims, mostly on religious persecution grounds. India followed with 8,500, citing political risks. The freeze halts these amid rising applications.
In Bangladesh, Rohingya refugees fear knock-on effects. Over 1 million Rohingya live in Cox’s Bazar camps. US programmes resettled 15,000 since 2017. The Trump asylum freeze pauses new intakes, per State Department notices.
Indian officials monitor the policy. New Delhi hosts 200,000 Afghan students and refugees. A November 2025 commerce ministry brief warned of visa backlogs hitting PKR 50 billion in remittances. Pakistani diaspora in the US, numbering 600,000, lobbies Congress for exemptions.
DHS reviews all Biden-approved asylum cases under the freeze. This includes 500,000 from South Asia. Critics call it a dragnet. The American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit on November 29 in federal court. It argues the halt violates due process.
Background: From Border Wall to Systemic Overhaul
Trump’s immigration stance dates to his first term. He built 700 km of border wall and enacted the 2017 travel ban on Muslim-majority nations. Re-elected in 2024, he pledged mass deportations and asylum curbs. By April 2025, ICE arrested 32,800 immigrants, 75% with criminal records.
The January 2025 executive order targeted invasion-like border surges. It reinstated Remain in Mexico for asylum seekers. Unaccompanied minors dropped to 0.4% of crossings by March 2025, from 4.6% under Biden.
The DC shooting catalysed the Trump asylum freeze. Lakanwal’s case exposed vetting gaps. FBI probes suggest no prior red flags. His asylum interview in 2024 cleared him for entry.
What’s Next: Reviews and Potential Challenges
USCIS aims to resume decisions after vetting upgrades. No timeline exists. Trump hinted at congressional bills for permanent bans. South Asian governments seek talks. Pakistan plans a December 5 envoy visit to Washington.
The Trump asylum freeze reshapes global migration. Over 2.2 million wait as systems grind to a halt. Regional fallout demands swift diplomacy.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, December 1st, 2025
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