In a swift decision, the United States has suspended the issuance of visas for Afghan passport holders after a tragic shooting incident resulted in the death of a National Guard member in Washington, DC. This move reflects the ongoing expansion of President Donald Trump’s immigration policies.
The announcement was made on Friday by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, indicating that visa processing for Afghan nationals has been halted “immediately” to prioritize public safety. Concurrently, US immigration authorities have announced a freeze on all asylum determinations until further notice.
These measures followed the identification of Afghan national Rahmanaullah Lakanwal as the attacker in a shooting that targeted two National Guard soldiers near the White House. The shooting claimed the life of Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and left Andrew Wolfe, 24, in a critical condition.
Rubio emphasized that safeguarding Americans is of utmost importance. According to officials, the attack appeared to be unprovoked, with Lakanwal reportedly ambushing the soldiers while they were on patrol.
The CIA has confirmed that Lakanwal had previously been employed by the agency in Afghanistan before moving to the US under “Operation Allies Welcome,” a program initiated during Biden’s presidency designed to help Afghans who supported US forces relocate safely post-2021 withdrawal.
Following Beckstrom’s death on Thursday night, the US Attorney’s Office announced escalated charges against Lakanwal, which now include first-degree murder and two counts of assault with intent to kill.
In another development, Joseph Edlow, director of US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), declared that all asylum decision processing is on hold to ensure thorough vetting of every applicant. Furthermore, there is a comprehensive review underway of green card applications from 19 “countries of concern,” as directed by President Trump.
President Trump characterized the shooting as a “terrorist attack” and leveraged the incident to critique Biden's immigration policies that have allowed Afghan nationals to resettle in the US. On his Truth Social platform, Trump proposed suspending immigration from what he described as “Third World countries,” although he did not specify which countries this includes.
He further stated that those who pose risks to security or don’t contribute positively to the US would be expelled, and he expressed a desire to denaturalize those undermining public order.
Since resuming office in January, Trump has instilled some of the most stringent immigration policies seen in decades. In October, his administration declared that only 7,500 refugees would be permitted entry in 2026, marking an all-time low since the 1980s.
These recent developments indicate a sharp tightening of immigration regulations, signaling serious consequences for Afghans and other refugees seeking sanctuary in the United States.
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