After the recent attack near the White House, the US has halted all immigration requests from Afghan nationals. The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on Thursday announced that it is immediately suspending all such applications. The move comes just hours after a targeted attack by an Afghan individual on members of the National Guard in Washington, D.C., near the White House.

“Effective immediately, processing of all immigration requests relating to Afghan nationals is stopped indefinitely pending further review of security and vetting protocols,” USCIS said in a post on X. The US government has said that protecting the country and ensuring the safety of Americans is its top priority.

This statement came soon after the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it was immediately stopping all immigration requests from Afghan nationals. The decision was taken just hours after an Afghan man attacked members of the National Guard near the White House in Washington, D.C.

US President Donald Trump had already promised to tighten deportation policies and increase security checks for Afghan migrants who entered the country after the Taliban takeover in 2021. The recent attack strengthened his stance. Trump condemned the shooting, calling it a “heinous assault” and “an act of terror.” He also ordered the Pentagon to deploy 500 additional troops to increase security in the US capital.

Attack on Nation Guards

The attack took place just a few blocks from the White House. Two members of the West Virginia National Guard were shot at point-blank range in what officials are describing as an ambush-style attack. The area was immediately placed under lockdown as security teams rushed in. At the time, President Trump was in Florida at his Mar-a-Lago residence for Thanksgiving.

In a video statement, Trump said, “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 just steps away from the White House.” He added that the attack was not just a crime against the soldiers, but a crime “against the entire nation” and “against humanity.”

Law enforcement agencies have identified the suspect as 29-year-old Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal. He arrived in the US in 2021 through Operation Allies Welcome, a program created to fast-track asylum and relocation for Afghans after the Taliban rule began. During the shootout, Lakanwal was injured and is now being treated in a hospital under heavy security. Investigators believe he acted alone and are continuing their inquiry.