DHS resumes asylum decisions. And, Iran's strike injures over 12 U.S. personnel
March 31, 2026 7:29 AM ET
By Brittney Melton
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Iran is currently allowing some vessels to navigate through the Strait of Hormuz, but the majority of oil and gas carriers remain obstructed. President Trump has consistently maintained that Iran desires to negotiate a resolution to the ongoing conflict, despite the deployment of thousands of U.S. troops to the Middle East. The President has also issued stern warnings regarding potential U.S. actions to confiscate or destroy Iran's oil, specifically targeting Kharg Island, which houses Iran's principal oil processing facility. Amidst the ongoing hostilities, NPR has confirmed that over a dozen U.S. service members were injured and two E-3 Sentry aircraft sustained damages due to an Iranian strike on a Saudi Arabian air base on Friday.
A member of police special forces stands guard on top of a vehicle in downtown Tehran, Iran, Monday.
Vahid Salemi/AP
- 🎧 NPR's Aya Batrawy, reporting from Dubai, indicates that the local population is adapting to a new reality due to their unfamiliarity with attacks. Prior to this conflict, Dubai had never been subject to missile strikes, and as such, lacks shelters. Batrawy notes an observable increase in fighter jets in the air, engaging and intercepting Iranian-made Shahed drones, which are inexpensive to manufacture yet have the potential for significant destruction. Pakistan has expressed its willingness to facilitate a meeting between Iran and the U.S. in the near future; however, there are currently no indicators that such discussions are underway. According to the Trump administration, U.S. diplomatic efforts are yielding results, reflected in the passage of some ships through the strait. Conversely, Iran asserts that no negotiations are taking place with the U.S.
Transportation Security officers received their initial paychecks yesterday following a protracted shutdown of over 40 days within the Department of Homeland Security. However, the partial government shutdown persists, leaving uncertainty regarding the timeline for the next paycheck.
- 🎧 Union leader Johnny Jones informs NPR that TSA employees have yet to receive their total compensation, contributing to ongoing anxiety and concern. While most security screeners have obtained full payment for two outstanding pay periods, TSA personnel are still awaiting compensation for a portion of a third missed paycheck, as confirmed by DHS. The source of these funds remains unclear, as Congress has not provided appropriated money for them. Critics of the Trump administration are raising questions regarding the legality of the White House's actions in this context. NPR's Joel Rose reports a noticeable decrease in security lines at U.S. airports yesterday, suggesting that operations are approaching normalcy. Nevertheless, the repercussions of this shutdown could linger, as more than 500 TSA officers have resigned during this crisis, according to DHS.
DHS has reinstated its review of asylum applications. However, a processing hold will persist for 36 countries categorized as "high risk," and these nations are subject to travel restrictions concerning entry into the U.S. In November 2025, the Trump administration temporarily halted the processing of approximately 4 million asylum applications filed with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. This pause was part of an array of immigration restrictions following an incident in which an Afghan national allegedly shot two National Guardsmen in Washington, D.C.
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