The United States has suspended all immigration processing for Afghan nationals, following a deadly shooting incident near the White House in Washington, DC. The decision was announced by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on Wednesday, hours after the suspect was identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national.
Lakanwal allegedly shot two National Guard members just blocks away from the White House before being wounded and taken into custody.
President Donald Trump condemned the attack, calling Afghanistan a “hell hole on earth,” and confirmed that early assessments by the Department of Homeland Security indicated the suspect had entered the US from Afghanistan.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated on X (formerly Twitter) that the suspect had been “mass paroled” into the US under Operation Allies Welcome on September 8, 2021, during the Biden administration.
Shortly after, USCIS announced an immediate policy freeze:
“Effective immediately, processing of all immigration requests relating to Afghan nationals is stopped indefinitely pending further review of security and vetting protocols. The safety of the American people remains our singular mission.”
The Afghan government has not yet issued a formal response.
The White House shooting has sparked renewed debate over immigration vetting. President Trump, currently spending Thanksgiving weekend in Florida, described the attack as “monstrous” and offered strong support to the victims’ families.
“Two members of the National Guard were shot at point-blank range in a heinous, ambush-style attack just steps away from the White House. This was an act of terror and a crime against our entire nation,” he said.
The two wounded National Guard troops are currently receiving medical care.
