U.S. Resumes Limited Review of Asylum Requests from Non-High-Risk Countries

WASHINGTON (Afghan Verified) -- The United States has resumed limited processing of asylum applications from countries not on its high-risk list, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials.

The reviews were halted in November 2025 following a shooting near the White House by a former Afghan soldier. The individual, who had entered the U.S. in 2021 under the Afghan Allies Relocation Program, fired at National Guard forces, wounding two people and killing one.

USCIS has now lifted restrictions on cases originating from countries outside the high-risk designation. However, asylum requests from citizens of 39 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America remain paused. All applicants, regardless of origin, will continue to undergo full security checks.

DHS officials emphasized that the partial resumption aims to balance national security with humanitarian obligations, while maintaining heightened scrutiny amid ongoing concerns. The high-risk list targets nations perceived as posing elevated threats based on vetting challenges and prior incidents.

This development follows intense scrutiny of the Afghan Allies Relocation Program, which facilitated entry for thousands of Afghan nationals post-2021 withdrawal. The November incident prompted a broad suspension to reassess protocols, affecting applicants worldwide.