In a sweeping and immediate policy shift, the United States has suspended all immigration processing for the Afghan nationals indefinitely. The move, officials say, is necessary to reassess security and vetting systems.
The decision follows a shocking shooting near the White House that left two National Guard members critically injured. Authorities allege that the attack was carried out by an Afghan man, who entered the US in 2021. And the case is being investigated as a potential act of terrorism.
The halt affects all Afghan-related visa applications, asylum petitions, and immigration pathways, and will remain in place until the federal review is completed.
USCIS Announces Indefinite Freeze
The suspension was formally announced in a post by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), which stated that the safety of Americans is the government’s top priority.
“Effective immediately, processing of all immigration requests relating to Afghan nationals is stopped indefinitely pending further review of security and vetting protocols,” USCIS said on X. “The protection and safety of our homeland and of the American people remains our singular focus and mission.”
Afghan Evacuee as Suspect
President Donald Trump, in a brief video message on Wednesday, confirmed that the suspect was an Afghan national who had fled the Taliban and arrived in the US during the 2021 evacuations.
Trump condemned the shooting, saying: “An act of evil, an act of hatred and an act of terror… It was a crime against our entire nation”, adding: “The 2021 evacuations as ‘those infamous flights.’”
Renewed Scrutiny of Military Forces
The shooting unfolded in broad daylight near a busy metro station, prompting renewed scrutiny of Trump’s deployment of federal military forces in multiple Democrat-led cities — including Washington, Los Angeles and Memphis. This strategy has faced legal challenges and criticism from state and municipal officials.
Trump used the moment to reinforce his administration’s shifting immigration stance, arguing for a deep review of Afghan arrivals admitted under the Biden administration.
“We must now re-examine every single alien who has entered our country from Afghanistan,” he said. “We must take all necessary measures to ensure the removal of any alien from any country who does not belong here, or add benefit to our country. If they can’t love our country, we don’t want them.”
According to official sources, the two wounded National Guard members remain in critical condition. Authorities have not yet released their names, and the suspect — who was taken into custody after the exchange of gunfire — is also being treated for severe injuries.
