Immigration from Afghanistan Suspended Following Shooting Incident

The administration has halted all immigration from Afghanistan after an Afghan man, who was paroled, allegedly attacked two National Guardsmen on Wednesday.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it is “indefinitely suspending” the processing of immigration applications for Afghan nationals. This decision came shortly after Rahmanullah Rakanwal, an Afghan national brought to the U.S. in 2021, reportedly shot two National Guardsmen in the head at a metro station in Washington, D.C.

In a statement on social media, the Immigration Department indicated that, “Processing of all immigration applications related to Afghan nationals is suspended with immediate effect, pending further review of security and vetting procedures.”

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

The shooting incident occurred just before 3 p.m. local time near 17th Avenue NW and I Street. Emergency services promptly arrived on the scene, and at least one helicopter is believed to have landed on the National Mall. Reports suggest that both Guardsmen are in critical condition.

Rakanwal was confirmed as the suspect, and a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) official stated that he is an Afghan national who entered the U.S. on parole authorized by the Biden administration.

In a statement, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem noted, “The suspect who shot and injured our brave National Guard member was one of many who were released on mass parole by the U.S. without review during Operation Welcoming Allies on September 8, 2021.” She recognized the National Guard members as vital to public safety and urged politicians and media to reflect on their treatment of those in uniform.

Earlier in the year, President Trump mentioned that federal authorities would oversee the D.C. Metropolitan Police to address crime in the capital. This was shortly after an incident where a government employee was injured while trying to prevent a carjacking.

Reports indicate that Rakanwal shouted “Allah Akbar!” before firing his weapon, leading to speculation that the shooting was a targeted attack.