The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on Wednesday.
That it will indefinitely suspend all immigration requests from Afghan nationals following a shooting near the White House. The suspect, identified as 29-year-old Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal, shot two National Guard troops just a few blocks from the presidential residence before being shot and taken into custody.
President Donald Trump condemned the attack, describing Afghanistan as a “hell hole on earth” and confirming that Lakanwal had entered the US under Operation Allies Welcome in September 2021 during the Biden administration. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed that the suspect had been “mass paroled” into the country under that program.
In response, USCIS said it would immediately halt the processing of all immigration requests from Afghan nationals pending a review of security and vetting protocols. The agency emphasized that protecting the homeland and American citizens remains its top priority.
The attack, which occurred just before Thanksgiving, was labeled by Trump as “monstrous” and “an act of terror,” and he extended support to the injured National Guard troops and their families. Afghanistan has not yet responded to the US immigration policy shift.
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