USCIS confirms an immediate, indefinite halt to Afghan immigration requests, including asylum and visas, following the National Guard shooting near the White House. President Trump demands a full review of all 2021 Afghan evacuees under Operation Allies Welcome.
US Halts Afghan Immigration Processing After White House Shooting
The safety and security of the American homeland became the singular focus of the current administration today, as the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced an immediate and indefinite halt to all immigration requests pertaining to Afghan nationals. This drastic policy change follows a brazen daylight attack near the White House in Washington D.C., where an Afghan national allegedly shot and critically wounded two members of the National Guard soldiers.
This sweeping decision affects all pathways for it seeking permanent residency, including those waiting for the determination of their asylum claims, individuals applying for family-based visas, and, critically, those awaiting processing under the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program—the promised lifeline for thousands of interpreters and other wartime collaborators. However, the administration’s focus remains squarely on homeland security and responding to what officials describe as a clear failure in the security screening process during the rapid 2021 evacuation.
The fate of thousands of people who were promised refuge and a path to citizenship now hangs precariously in the balance as the White House commences its unprecedented security review. The USCIS Afghan ban is a signal that the US is shifting decisively toward a much stricter, security-first immigration posture.
