The United States has halted the processing of all immigration requests from Afghans following an incident in which an Afghan man was identified as the shooter in an attack that critically injured two National Guard soldiers near the White House. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced this decision is pending a review of security and vetting protocols.
The shooting occurred on Wednesday, when the suspect, identified as Rahmanullah Lakamal, reportedly opened fire near the Farragut Square Metro Station. He is said to have entered the U.S. from Afghanistan in September 2021, having arrived under a special immigration program called Operation Allies Welcome. Lakamal applied for asylum in 2024, which was granted earlier this year. U.S. President Donald Trump characterized the shooting as an “act of terror” and suggested that the country needs to reassess the immigration status of individuals who entered from Afghanistan under the previous administration.
The attack took place around 2:15 PM EST, while the National Guard members were conducting a patrol in the area. Local law enforcement noted that the soldiers were ambushed and that other nearby National Guard members intervened to subdue the suspect until police arrived. Reports indicate that Lakamal was shot four times during the encounter.
In response to rising crime, thousands of National Guard troops have been deployed to Washington, D.C., a move that Trump has linked to combating what he terms “out of control” crime. This deployment mirrors efforts in other U.S. cities, which have faced legal challenges regarding the extent of federal authority. Earlier this year, Trump also instituted a travel ban affecting nationals from Afghanistan, among other countries, although Afghan nationals with Special Immigration Visas were somewhat exempted from these restrictions. The Taliban regained control in Afghanistan following the U.S. withdrawal in 2021, and the current administration ended a program that provided deportation protections for many Afghans.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgex957qg97o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss