The US has suspended the processing of all immigration requests for Afghan nationals pending a review of security and vetting protocols, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services announced.
In a post on X, the agency stated: The protection and safety of our homeland and of the American people remains our singular focus and mission..
This decision follows a shooting incident near the White House where two National Guard soldiers sustained critical injuries. The alleged perpetrator, identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national, entered the US in September 2021.
US President Donald Trump branded the shooting as an act of terror. Expressing his commitment to national security, he asserted intentions to review the status of Afghan nationals in the US, particularly those who entered during the chaotic withdrawal under former President Biden.
Trump remarked, We must now reexamine every single alien who has entered our country from Afghanistan under Biden.
Tens of thousands of Afghans came to the US under special immigration protections after the US withdrawal in 2021 due to the resurgence of the Taliban.
Under the operation known as Operation Allies Welcome, numerous Afghan nationals were granted entry to the US. However, following recent events, the administration is tightening immigration protocols. This move is part of a broader travel ban that Trump reinstated earlier this year, further restricting entry from Afghanistan and other nations.
Exceptions have been made for Afghan nationals holding Special Immigration Visas, available to individuals who directly assisted the US military prior to the Taliban's takeover. However, it marks another significant blow for those seeking refuge in the United States.
