Post Reports What happens to asylum after the attack on the National Guard
Dec 3, 2025
Arelis R. Hernández, a National immigration reporter for The Washington Post, dives deep into the fallout from the shooting of two National Guard members by an Afghan national. She uncovers the suspect's background and details the complexities of asylum and immigration policies that have been affected. Following the attack, the Trump administration swiftly halted asylum decisions and visa issuances for Afghans, raising legal and procedural questions. The discussion emphasizes the impact on over 1.4 million pending asylum cases and potential economic ramifications.
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Shooter's Path From Afghanistan To U.S.
- Rahmanullah Lakhonwal arrived via the U.S. evacuation and special immigrant visa process after 2021's Afghanistan withdrawal.
- Arelis R. Hernández explains he worked with U.S. military and CIA-linked units before resettling in the U.S.
Evacuees Faced Multiple Vetting Layers
- Lakhonwal underwent multiple layers of vetting by military, State Department, and USCIS before entry.
- Arelis R. Hernández stresses that those evacuation processes included interviews, medical exams, and counterterror checks.
Asylum Decisions Put On Hold Nationwide
- The administration halted all asylum decisions and paused Afghan passport visa issuance in rapid policy moves.
- Arelis R. Hernández notes these were announced via social media and memos but may lack full legal finality yet.