US Halts Immigration Requests for Afghans After D.C. Shooting Incident

Fri Dec 05 2025 04:55:37 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a dramatic response to a shooting incident involving an Afghan national near the White House, the US has suspended the processing of immigration requests for Afghan nationals, initiating a review of security protocols.

Following a shooting that critically injured two National Guard members in Washington D.C., the US Citizenship and Immigration Services has suspended all immigration requests from Afghan nationals pending a security review. The alleged shooter, an Afghan who entered through a special immigration program, has raised concerns about entry processes, prompting calls from officials to re-evaluate immigration policies for those from Afghanistan.

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 said: The protection and safety of our homeland and of the American people remains our singular focus and mission.

This decision comes after two National Guard soldiers were critically injured in a shooting near the White House. The alleged gunman was an Afghan national who entered the US in September 2021.

US President Donald Trump labeled the attack as an act of terror, asserting that measures would be taken to remove foreigners deemed unnecessary in the US.

Tens of thousands of Afghans entered the US under special immigration protections following the chaotic withdrawal in 2021, with the shooter identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan who came under Operation Allies Welcome.

This order is compounded by an earlier US travel ban affecting nationals from Afghanistan and other countries, raising questions regarding the future of Afghan nationals in the US and the efficacy of current immigration protocols.

Afghans holding Special Immigration Visas, granted to those who worked directly with US forces, are among few exceptions to the new restrictions, while earlier programs providing deportation protections have been rescinded.