The United States has announced a suspension of Afghan immigration applications following a shooting incident near the White House on November 26, in which two National Guard members were killed, according to RBC.
US President Donald Trump ordered a thorough review of all Afghan nationals who entered the country during the Biden administration. In light of this, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced an immediate suspension of processing immigration applications from Afghan citizens. The agency stated that all applications will be halted indefinitely until security protocols and checks are fully reviewed.
“Our top priorities remain the protection of our country and the safety of the American people. We are suspending the processing of all immigration requests from Afghan citizens until further notice,” the USCIS statement read.
The White House shooting Incident
The shooting occurred on the night of November 26 near the White House, resulting in the deaths of two National Guard soldiers. The assailant was injured and apprehended. FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed that the suspect had entered the US from Afghanistan in 2021, says the BBC’s Russian Service.
Authorities identified the shooter as 29-year-old Afghan citizen Rahmanullah Lakanwala, according to CBS.
District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser confirmed that the shooting was targeted specifically at the National Guard members. “We know this was a targeted shooting at the Guardsmen,” she said.
Trump’s response and next steps
President Donald Trump called the incident “an act of terrorism” and condemned the shooter’s actions. In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, he described the shooter as an “animal” who would “pay a very high price” for his actions.
“The animal who shot two National Guardsmen… is also badly injured but will, despite that, pay a very high price,” Trump’s post read.
Trump again criticized the Biden administration and demanded that all Afghans who entered the US during the withdrawal period be thoroughly checked. “We will not tolerate such assaults on law and order by people who shouldn’t even be in our country,” he stressed.
Additionally, Trump announced that 500 more National Guard personnel would be deployed to Washington, DC, to bolster security. “We will make America absolutely safe again,” he added, thanking the security agencies for their work.
International reaction
The incident has sparked widespread discussion both within the US and abroad, as concerns about security and immigration policies related to Afghan nationals remain pressing. The situation regarding US immigration policy continues to develop, with authorities promising a thorough investigation.
