The United States has halted all immigration requests from Afghan nationals following a shooting near the White House that left two National Guard members critically injured.
"Effective immediately, processing of all immigration requests relating to Afghan nationals is stopped indefinitely pending further review of security and vetting protocols," the US Citizenship and Immigration Services said in a post on X.
"The protections and safety of our homeland and of the American people remains our singular focus and mission," the post added.
FBI Director Kash Patel clarified on Wednesday that two National Guard troops shot near the White House in downtown Washington were critically wounded, correcting earlier reports that they had died.
Authorities have identified the suspect as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national who reportedly entered the United States in 2021. Officials said his identity is still being verified, and the motive for the attack remains unclear.
Also read: Who is Rahmanullah Lakanwal? Suspect accused of critically wounding two guardsmen
US President Donald Trump described the incident as “an act of terror, a crime against humanity” and vowed to review the entry of Afghan nationals during the previous administration.
"This heinous assault was an act of evil, an act of hatred and an act of terror," Trump said, as he vowed to have his administration "reexamine every single alien who has entered our country from Afghanistan" during his predecessor Joe Biden's presidency.
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