Washington— The United States has halted all immigration processes for Afghan nationals after the arrest of 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who allegedly shot two National Guard troops just blocks from the White House. The suspect was immediately shot and detained by responding officers.
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced the suspension on X, saying the move was necessary to reassess security and vetting procedures. “Effective immediately, processing of all immigration requests relating to Afghan nationals is stopped indefinitely pending further review of security and vetting protocols. The safety of the American people remains our singular focus,” the agency posted.
President Donald Trump issued a sharp response shortly after the suspect was identified, describing Afghanistan as a “hell hole on earth” and asserting that the attacker had entered the U.S. from Afghanistan. “Based on the best available information, the Department of Homeland Security is confident that the suspect in custody is a foreigner who entered our country from Afghanistan,” Trump said.
So far, Afghanistan has not issued any statement on the U.S. decision or the shooting incident.
Later in the evening, President Trump condemned the attack in strong terms, calling it “monstrous” and “an act of terror.” He said the assault, which took place on the eve of Thanksgiving, targeted two members of the West Virginia National Guard in an “ambush-style” shooting close to the White House.
“It was a crime against our entire nation, a crime against humanity. The hearts of all Americans tonight are with those two members of the National Guard and their families,” he said.
The two injured service members remain under treatment as federal agencies continue investigating the motive behind the attack.
