In the wake of a shooting incident near the White House that left two National Guard soldiers critically injured, the United States has halted all immigration requests from Afghan nationals. The suspect, identified as Rahmanullah Lakamal, allegedly arrived in the US from Afghanistan in September 2021 under Operation Allies Welcome, a program designed to assist Afghan refugees following the US withdrawal from the country. President Donald Trump labeled the attack as an ‘act of terror’ and vowed to reassess the immigration status of all Afghan nationals who entered the country under his predecessor, Joe Biden. The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that Lakamal had been granted asylum earlier this year. The incident occurred near the Farragut Square Metro Station, where the suspect reportedly ambushed the soldiers before being subdued by other National Guard members. In response, Trump has imposed a travel ban on Afghan nationals and ended a temporary protected status program for Afghan migrants. The Pentagon has also announced the deployment of an additional 500 National Guard troops to Washington, DC, to bolster security.
US suspends immigration requests for Afghans after National Guard shooting
