Federal Immigration Authorities Pause Processing of Afghan National Requests
Federal immigration authorities announced on Wednesday that they have paused the processing of all immigration requests from Afghan nationals, following a shooting incident in Washington, D.C., where a man identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who entered the U.S. under Biden’s Operation Allies Welcome initiative, was suspected to be the perpetrator.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Statement:
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services stated, “The processing of all immigration requests relating to Afghan nationals is stopped indefinitely pending further review of security and vetting protocols.”
President Trump’s Remarks:
President Trump expressed his sentiment after the shooting, stating, “We must now reexamine every single alien who has entered our country from Afghanistan under Biden, and we must take all necessary measures to ensure the removal of any alien from any country who does not belong here or add benefit to our country.”
Background on Afghan Immigrants in the U.S.:
- Operation Allies Welcome: Over 85,000 Afghans were resettled in the U.S. under this initiative. Many were initially housed at military bases and later flown to the U.S. after processing.
- Special Immigration Visas: Some Afghan nationals qualified for these visas, often due to their work with the U.S. government, especially military interpreters who feared Taliban retribution. However, the program faced years of backlogs.
- Asylum and Family-Based Visas: Others applied for asylum or visas based on family relationships with U.S. citizens or green card holders.
- Humanitarian Parole and Temporary Protected Status: Many Afghans were granted temporary protections, but without a clear path to permanent residency.
The Shooting Suspect’s Situation:
A Department of Homeland Security official revealed that the shooting suspect was paroled into the U.S. in 2021 on humanitarian grounds and later applied for asylum, which was granted in 2025. His request for a green card is still pending.
Political Reactions:
Both political parties have expressed support for assisting Afghans who aided U.S. forces. However, Republican officials have raised questions about the rigor of vetting processes.
Condemnation and Support:
The nonprofit group AfghanEvac condemned the attack while emphasizing that immigrants from Afghanistan undergo extensive security vetting. They urged against demonizing the Afghan community.