The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced an immediate halt to processing all immigration requests from Afghan nationals following the identification of Rahmanullah Lakanwal as the suspect in the Washington, DC, National Guard shooting.
The 29-year-old Afghan national shot two US National Guard troops near the White House before being shot and detained by authorities.
USCIS Halts Afghan Immigration
“Effective immediately, processing of all immigration requests relating to Afghan nationals is stopped indefinitely pending further review of security and vetting protocols. The protections and safety of our homeland and of the American people remain our singular focus and mission,” USCIS said in a statement on X, formerly Twitter.
The announcement came shortly after Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed that Lakanwal had been “mass paroled into the United States under Operation Allies Welcome on September 8, 2021, under the Biden Administration.”
What USCIS Announced?
“Effective immediately, processing of all immigration requests relating to Afghan nationals is stopped indefinitely pending further review of security and vetting protocols. The protections and safety of our homeland and of the American people remain our singular focus and mission,” USCIS said in a statement on X, formerly Twitter.
The announcement came shortly after Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed that Lakanwal had been “mass paroled into the United States under Operation Allies Welcome on September 8, 2021, under the Biden Administration.”
Trump Responds to Shooting
President Donald Trump, spending the Thanksgiving weekend in Florida, strongly condemned the attack. “Earlier today on the eve of the Thanksgiving holiday, two members of the National Guard serving in Washington, DC were shot at point-blank range in a monstrous, ambush-style attack just steps away from the White House. This heinous assault was an act of evil and an act of hatred and an act of terror. It was a crime against our entire nation; it was a crime against humanity. The hearts of all Americans tonight are with those two members of the West Virginian National Guard and their families,” he said.
Trump also described Afghanistan as a “hellhole on earth” and confirmed that “based on the best available information, the Department of Homeland Security is confident that the suspect in custody is a foreigner who entered our country from Afghanistan.”
Who is Rahmanullah Lakanwal?
Law enforcement sources say Lakanwal entered the US in 2021 under a special visa program designed to resettle Afghans who assisted US forces during the Afghanistan war. The suspect had been living in Washington, DC, before the attack.
The shooting left both National Guard soldiers in critical condition at a local hospital. Officials continue to investigate the incident, examining how Lakanwal obtained a firearm and the circumstances of his entry and parole into the US.
Implications for Afghan Immigration and US Security
Experts say the USCIS decision signals a major shift in US immigration policy, particularly for Afghan nationals who entered under Operation Allies Welcome. The indefinite pause will allow authorities to review vetting procedures, security checks, and parole practices.
Security analysts warn that while most Afghan migrants pose no threat, incidents like this could prompt tighter scrutiny and delays for resettlement programs. They urge balancing national security concerns with humanitarian obligations.
The move also raises questions about the coordination between US immigration authorities and local law enforcement to prevent potential threats while maintaining support for refugees who assisted US forces.
