The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services have implemented an immediate suspension on processing any immigration applications involving Afghan nationals. This decision follows an incident in Washington DC where two National Guard members were critically injured, allegedly by an Afghan man.
In a statement made on the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter), USCIS announced that all immigration requests related to Afghan nationals are halted indefinitely. The agency emphasized that the safety and security of the American people and the homeland are their top priorities.
The suspected shooter, Rahmanullah Lakanwa, an Afghan national, was identified in the attack on two National Guard members on November 26. Both victims are currently in critical condition in the hospital, according to FBI director Kash Patel as reported by The Express.
Lakanwa, aged 29, arrived in the United States in September 2021 through Operation Allies Welcome, a program initiated during the Biden administration to evacuate and resettle Afghan individuals following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.
A relative of Lakanwa revealed to NBC News that the suspect had served with U.S. Special Forces in Afghanistan before relocating to the U.S. Lakanwa had a decade-long tenure in the Afghan Army, including time stationed at a base in Kandahar.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump attributed blame to the Biden administration for the attack, highlighting the circumstances of Lakanwa’s arrival in the country in September 2021.
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