US immigration stops processing Afghans after Washington DC shooting | US | News

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services said it will immediately stop processing all immigration claims for Afghan citizens following the arrest of an Afghan man in connection with a Washington, D.C., shooting that left two National Guard members fighting for their lives.

“Effective immediately, processing of all immigration requests for Afghan citizens has been suspended indefinitely pending further review of security and investigative protocols,” USCIS said in a statement. post on social media The platform formerly known as Twitter X.

“The protection and security of our homeland and the American people remains our sole focus and mission,” the agency said.

Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwa has been named as the suspect who shot two National Defense guards on Wednesday, November 26.

According to FBI Director Kash Patel, the duo were on duty when the targeted attack took place and both were in critical condition in the hospital.

The 29-year-old actor came to the United States in September 2021 as part of Operation Welcome Allies under the Biden administration.

The program evacuated and resettled tens of thousands of Afghans after the United States withdrew from the country after almost 20 years of fighting against the Taliban.

A relative of Lakanwa told NBC News that the suspect served with U.S. Special Forces troops in Afghanistan before moving to the United States. They revealed that Lakanwal spent 10 years in the Afghan Army, serving part of that time at a base in Kandahar.

US President addressing the nation about the attack Donald Trump He blamed the Biden administration.

“He was flown by the Biden administration in September 2021 on those infamous flights that everyone is talking about. Nobody knew who was coming, nobody knew anything about it,” Trump said.