The United States has stopped all immigration-related processing for Afghan nationals with immediate effect, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on Wednesday.
The move comes as federal authorities launch a comprehensive review of vetting and security procedures.
USCIS said the pause is indefinite and applies to all Afghan-linked immigration requests, including pending and newly submitted cases.
In its statement, the agency stressed that national security remains its top concern: “The protection and safety of our homeland and of the American people remains our singular focus and mission.”
No timeline has been given for when the review will conclude or when processing might resume.
The suspension follows a high-profile security incident in Washington, D.C., where two National Guard members were shot near the White House in what authorities describe as a “targeted ambush”.
Officials have identified the suspect as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national who entered the U.S. in September 2021 under the Operation Allies Welcome program, which resettled Afghan evacuees after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.
The two soldiers, members of the West Virginia National Guard, were attacked near the Farragut West metro station and remain in critical condition. Lakanwal was also shot during the confrontation and is now in custody.
The FBI, along with local law enforcement, is leading the investigation and is treating the incident as a possible act of terrorism.
