The U.S. has announced the indefinite suspension of all immigration requests for Afghan nationals hours after a targeted attack near the White House left two National Guard troops critically wounded.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) made the immediate halt effective on Thursday, stating the move is necessary “pending further review of security and vetting protocols.”
The Attack and Suspect
The incident involved an ambush-style shooting just blocks from the White House, near the Farragut West Metro station, where two members of the West Virginia National Guard were critically injured.
- Suspect Identified: Law enforcement sources named the alleged shooter as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national.
- Current Status: Lakanwal was wounded during the gunfire exchange and is currently hospitalized under tight security. Investigators believe he acted alone.
- Immigration History: Lakanwal entered the U.S. in 2021 through Operation Allies Welcome, the program designed to fast-track the resettlement of Afghan evacuees after the Taliban takeover. He was granted asylum in 2025.
Presidential Response and Policy Shift
The policy change follows a strong condemnation of the event by President Donald Trump, who was at his Mar-a-Lago club for Thanksgiving.
- Condemnation: President Trump called the shooting a “heinous assault” and an “act of terror,” vowing that the perpetrator “will pay a very steep price.”
- Security Deployment: The President instructed the Pentagon to send 500 additional troops to secure the U.S. capital.
- Immigration Vow: The President also indicated his administration would intensify deportation efforts and initiate a re-examination of all Afghan migrants who arrived after 2021, linking the policy review directly to the shooting.
