“All immigration processing for Afghan nationals will be paused indefinitely. The decision takes effect immediately while we review our security and vetting procedures. Protecting the homeland and ensuring the safety of the American people remains our core mission,” the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced.
President Donald Trump also directed federal agencies to re-examine all cases involving Afghan nationals who entered the U.S. after the withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.
These actions follow the incident in which two National Guard soldiers were shot while on duty near the White House. The suspect, who was also wounded, was taken to a hospital. His motive remains unclear.
On November 27, President Trump announced that Sarah Beckstrom, one of the two guards shot, had died in the hospital. The suspect was later identified as Rahmanaullah Lakanwal, 29, an Afghan citizen who entered the U.S. in September 2021 under President Joe Biden’s “Operation Allies Welcome,” a program created to receive Afghans fleeing the country after the Taliban seized power in August 2021.
President Trump described the shooting as an “act of terrorism.” FBI Director Kash Patel said the bureau is investigating the case with support from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Secret Service, and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Speaking at Mar-a-Lago on November 26, Trump criticized his predecessor’s handling of Operation Allies Welcome, calling President Biden a “terrible president.”
Vice President JD Vance echoed Trump’s remarks. “Back then, I criticized Joe Biden for welcoming Afghan nationals without proper vetting. Some people called me racist. That moment made me see the truth clearly. Those individuals should never have been allowed into our country,” he said.
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According to the Migration Policy Institute, as of 2022, roughly 195,000 Afghan immigrants were living in the United States, mostly in Washington, D.C., and Sacramento, California.
One day before the shooting, the Trump administration ordered USCIS to “re-interview” about 200,000 refugees who had previously been admitted to the U.S. to determine whether they met the legal definition of a refugee under the Immigration and Nationality Act at the time of their entry.