The United States has halted all immigration processing for Afghan nationals following the identification of an Afghan asylum seeker as the suspected gunman in an ambush-style shooting that critically injured two National Guard members in Washington, DC.
US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced the suspension in a post on X, stating that all immigration requests “relating to Afghan nationals” are paused indefinitely pending a review of security and vetting procedures.
The announcement came shortly after Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the suspect — 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal — was among the thousands of Afghans evacuated to the US in 2021 under Operation Allies Welcome (OAW) after the fall of Kabul. He had reportedly been granted asylum earlier this year.
The Incident Behind the Policy Shift
Authorities say the attack took place on Wednesday morning when a man approached two National Guard members deployed from West Virginia and opened fire at close range. Both guardsmen were critically wounded.
CBS News reported that the suspect fired between 10 and 15 shots before being struck by return fire and detained. Investigators have not yet determined a motive.
FBI Director Kash Patel said the case would be treated as “an assault on a federal law enforcement officer.” NBC News reported that investigators are also reviewing whether the attack meets the criteria for an act of terrorism.
Political Fallout Inside the United States
President Donald Trump sharply criticized former President Biden’s handling of the Afghan evacuation, saying the suspect “was flown in” under OAW. He called for a reassessment of all Afghans who entered the country under the programme and urged the removal of any non-citizen “who does not belong here or add benefit to our country.”
A government audit released in June 2025 had previously found that 55 Afghan evacuees were either on the terrorist watchlist at the time of arrival or were later added to it — a data point now resurfacing in political debate.
Trump has also used the incident to reinforce his broader immigration policies, which include deploying National Guard units to several US cities. His critics argue the deployments are excessive and politically motivated, and several legal challenges are underway.
A Decision With Global Implications
The US-led evacuation in August 2021 moved nearly 90,000 Afghans to safety after the Taliban’s return to power. Many were military allies, interpreters, journalists, and families fleeing persecution.
The indefinite halt to immigration processing now places thousands of Afghans in uncertain circumstances — both those already in the United States and others waiting abroad for reunification, resettlement, or asylum decisions.
International observers note that shifts in US refugee policy often influence global migration trends, particularly among countries that participated in the Kabul airlift. While governments worldwide are watching Washington’s next steps, no major international body has yet issued a formal response specific to this suspension.
A Broader Debate on Security and Responsibility
The incident has reignited a longstanding debate: how nations can address security concerns without disrupting humanitarian protection systems designed for people fleeing conflict.
For Afghans still seeking resettlement, the freeze adds a new layer of uncertainty in an already fragile regional and global context.
As the investigation into the DC shooting continues, US officials say the suspension of Afghan immigration processing will remain in place until their security review is completed.
