The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced it is suspending the processing of all immigration applications from Afghan nationals indefinitely, following a shooting in Washington, DC, in which an Afghan man allegedly opened fire on two National Guard members near the White House.
The agency said the decision was made to allow time for a review of its security and vetting procedures.
“Effective immediately, processing of all immigration requests relating to Afghan nationals is stopped indefinitely pending further review of security and vetting protocols,” the USCIS said in a statement. “The protection and safety of our homeland and of the American people remains our singular focus and mission.”
The move comes after Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national who arrived in the US in 2021, was taken into custody in connection with what officials described as a targeted ambush-style shooting on Wednesday afternoon.
Federal authorities have not yet confirmed a motive, but the FBI is leading the investigation, which is being treated as a possible act of terrorism, according to officials briefed on the case.
In a video address Wednesday night, President Trump condemned the attack in stark terms, referring to the suspect as “an animal” and saying he should face “the harshest possible punishment.”
Trump described the incident as “a heinous crime against our nation” and linked the shooting to the Biden administration’s 2021 evacuation from Afghanistan. “This individual,” he said, “was brought here as part of the Biden administration’s infamous withdrawal flights in September 2021.”
In his remarks, Trump referred to Afghanistan as “hell on earth” and criticized the Department of Homeland Security, claiming it had confirmed the suspect’s Afghan citizenship. US officials have not publicly released details of the suspect’s immigration background or any past affiliations.
The two injured National Guard members remain in critical condition, according to the FBI.
