On Wednesday (US time), the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it was halting all immigration processing request for people from Afghanistan.
The major update followed merely hours after near-fatal gunfire left two National Guard troops severely injured. According to officials, the soldiers were hospitalised in critical condition. Meanwhile, a suspect behind the “ambush”- style attack on the guardsmen was also identified.
US news outlets, including CNN and Fox News, cited law enforcement authorities, saying that Rahmanullah Lakanwal, the “suspect in custody” was an “illegal immigrant” from Afghanistan. Given his staunch stance on immigration, US President Donald Trump called the attack an “act of terror,” while also taking aim at migrants who came into the country during his predecessor’s administration.
USCIS announcement after DC shooting
On its X account, the official government agency wrote, “Effective immediately, processing of all immigration requests relating to Afghan nationals is stopped indefinitely pending further review of security and vetting protocols. The protection and safety of our homeland and of the American people remains our singular focus and mission.”
Effective immediately, processing of all immigration requests relating to Afghan nationals is stopped indefinitely pending further review of security and vetting protocols.
— USCIS (@USCIS) November 27, 2025
The protection and safety of our homeland and of the American people remains our singular focus and…
Consequently, Trump said Wednesday that his government will review the immigration cases of all those people from Afghanistan who came to the US under the Joe Biden administration.
“We must now reexamine every single alien who has entered our country from Afghanistan under Biden,” he said while at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. “And 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.”
He added, “If they can’t love our country, we don’t want them.”
What do we know about the Afghan national suspect in White House shooting?
Relying on law enforcement’s intel, Fox News journalists said during a shooting aftermath broadcast that the suspected National Guard shooter came to the US under the Joe Biden administration. Although his entry was facilitated by the ex-president’s refugee initiative called ‘Operation Allies Welcome’, Rahmanullah Lakanwal reportedly overstayed his visa.
The 29-year-old suspect’s relative further told NBC News that Lakanwal used to serve in the Afghan Army, and was stationed in Kandahar where he supported US Special Forces. He was injured during his service days and eventually fled Afghanistan.
“We were the ones that were targeted by the Taliban in Afghanistan,” the relative added. “I cannot believe it that he might do this.”
While a motive has not been revealed yet, Lakanwal is said to have been shot in return after he allegedly targeted a female guard in the chest and head. So far, the Afghan national had been living in Bellingham, Washington.”
