Washington, D.C. – In a sweeping policy shift that has sent shockwaves through the global humanitarian community, the United States government has announced an immediate and indefinite suspension of all immigration processing for Afghan nationals. This drastic measure, confirmed by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on Thursday, November 27, 2025, comes less than 24 hours after a targeted shooting incident near the White House left two National Guard members critically wounded.
The decision marks a significant pivot in American foreign and domestic policy, effectively freezing the pathways for thousands of Afghan allies, interpreters, and refugees who have been in legal limbo since the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Kabul in 2021. The suspension was triggered by the revelation that the suspected gunman, identified by law enforcement as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, is an Afghan national who entered the country under the Operation Allies Welcome program.
The Trigger Event: Violence in the Capital
The incident that precipitated this policy freeze occurred on the afternoon of Wednesday, November 26, near Farragut Square, just blocks from the White House complex. Two members of the West Virginia National Guard, deployed to the capital as part of President Donald Trump’s intensified security measures, were ambushed in what authorities have described as a “targeted attack.”
Both soldiers remain in critical condition. The suspect, 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, was wounded in an exchange of gunfire and is currently in police custody. According to law enforcement sources, Lakanwal arrived in the United States in September 2021, shortly after the Taliban retook control of Afghanistan. He was processed through Operation Allies Welcome, a massive airlift and resettlement effort that brought tens of thousands of Afghans to American soil.
President Trump, speaking from Florida, condemned the shooting as an “act of terror” and an “act of evil.” In a video statement, he explicitly linked the violence to the vetting procedures of the previous administration, stating that the suspect arrived on “those infamous flights.” Consequently, the President has ordered a comprehensive re-examination of every Afghan national who entered the U.S. during that period.
Official Government Response: The Freeze
Following the President’s directive, USCIS issued a directive halting all adjudication of Afghan cases. In a statement posted to official channels, the agency declared: “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.”
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This suspension impacts a wide array of immigration categories. For detailed information on the specific programs now on hold, the USCIS maintains a dedicated portal for Afghan nationals, which can be accessed here: Information for Afghan Nationals | USCIS.
The freeze is expected to affect:
- Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs): Designed for Afghans who worked directly with the U.S. military or government, often as interpreters or guides.
- Humanitarian Parole: A mechanism used to allow individuals to enter the U.S. for urgent humanitarian reasons.
- Asylum Applications: Pending cases for Afghans already in the U.S. who fear persecution if returned to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.
- Family Reunification: Petitions by Afghans already settled in the U.S. to bring their immediate family members to safety.
The Vetting Controversy and “Operation Allies Welcome”
The core of the current controversy lies in the vetting process used during the 2021 evacuation. Operation Allies Welcome was established to expedite the processing of vulnerable Afghans. While the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has consistently maintained that all arrivals underwent “rigorous biometric and biographic screening,” critics have long argued that the speed of the evacuation may have led to gaps in intelligence.
The Department of Homeland Security provides historical context and current operational details on the parole processes on their official site: Operation Allies Welcome | DHS. However, with the new executive directive, the future of this program is uncertain. The “re-examination” ordered by the President implies a retroactive vetting of individuals who have been living in the United States for up to four years.
Impact on Allies and Humanitarian Obligations
This indefinite pause leaves thousands of Afghans in a precarious position. Many SIV applicants are currently in third countries, waiting for their paperwork to be finalized so they can travel to the United States. For them, this news is devastating. The U.S. Department of State has long warned U.S. citizens and allies against travel to Afghanistan due to the risk of kidnapping and terrorism, a stance reiterated in their travel advisories: Afghanistan International Travel Information.
With the processing freeze, those who remain in Afghanistan or in temporary transit locations face renewed uncertainty. The Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program, which was legally mandated by Congress to protect those who served alongside American troops, is now effectively non-operational. This raises significant legal and ethical questions regarding the U.S. commitment to its wartime allies.
Political Ramifications
The shooting has also reignited the debate over the presence of National Guard troops in Washington, D.C. President Trump had deployed over 2,000 troops to the capital to combat what he termed a “crime emergency,” a move that has faced legal challenges and criticism from local leaders, including D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser.
In the wake of the attack, the administration has doubled down on this strategy, ordering an additional 500 troops to the city. The incident has provided political ammunition for the administration’s hardline stance on both immigration and domestic security. By framing the shooting as a failure of immigration vetting, the focus has shifted from the local crime debate to national security and border control.
Looking Ahead
As investigators from the FBI and local police delve into Lakanwal’s background to determine a motive, the immigration system grinds to a halt for an entire nationality. The “indefinite” nature of the suspension suggests that this is not a momentary pause but a potential restructuring of how the U.S. handles immigration from “high-risk” regions.
For legal residents and citizens of Afghan descent, the call for a “re-examination” of all entrants since 2021 has sparked fears of mass deportations or revocations of status. The coming weeks will likely see intense legal battles as advocacy groups challenge the blanket suspension of congressionally authorized visa programs.
For the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding these changes, affected individuals and legal representatives should consult the Department of State’s official resources on SIVs here: Special Immigrant Visas for Afghans – Employment-Based.
