US Resumes Some Asylum Claims After National Guard Shootings

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The Trump administration will resume processing some asylum claims after a near-blanket halt of immigration paperwork for hundreds of thousands of people seeking refuge in the U.S. following a shooting involving an Afghan national on humanitarian parole. The move applies to people from countries that aren't subject to travel bans and other restrictions, but individuals from the 39 countries on President Donald Trump's travel ban still have their asylum paperwork on hold.

Why it matters

The shooting of two National Guard members near the White House in November 2025 led the Trump administration to impose sweeping restrictions on asylum claims, one of a series of immigration crackdowns that were criticized for lacking clear legal authority. The resumption of some asylum processing, while still maintaining tight restrictions, reflects the administration's efforts to balance security concerns with immigration policy.

The details

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has lifted the adjudicative hold for asylum seekers from countries that are deemed to be a lower risk, according to a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson. However, individuals from the 39 countries on President Donald Trump's travel ban, including Senegal, Somalia, Nigeria, Afghanistan, Laos, Cuba, Haiti and others, still have their asylum paperwork on hold.

• In November 2025, an Afghan national on humanitarian parole shot two National Guard members near the White House.
• After the shooting, the White House shut down asylum claims, one of a series of immigration restrictions.

What’s next

The administration has not provided a timeline for when it will resume processing asylum claims for individuals from the 39 countries on the travel ban.