WASHINGTON – The United States has indefinitely suspended all immigration applications submitted by Afghan nationals after an Afghan citizen allegedly shot two National Guard personnel near the White House.
According to US media reports, the Trump administration ordered an immediate halt to Afghan immigration processing following the November 26 incident in Washington, D.C., where two National Guard members were critically injured.
In an announcement posted on social platform X, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) stated that all immigration applications from Afghan citizens have been paused indefinitely.
The immigration agency said that security and vetting protocols for Afghan applicants will undergo further review before processing resumes.
It may be mentioned here that he shooting occurred near the White House, leaving both National Guard personnel in critical condition.
The US authorities confirmed that a suspect has been arrested and identified as 29-year-old Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal.
US president Donald Trump has condemned the incident as an act of terrorism, announcing that all foreigners who entered the United States during President Joe Biden’s tenure will undergo renewed vetting.
In a social media statement, Trump labelled the attacker a “beast,” warning that anyone who carries out an assault on the National Guard “will pay a severe price.”
The injured personnel belonged to the state of West Virginia. The West Virginia governor said he has been in constant contact with federal authorities, adding that investigations are underway.
Following the shooting, flights at Washington’s Ronald Reagan Airport were briefly suspended due to security concerns, before normal operations were restored after a short delay.
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