The US Citizenship and Immigration Services has halted all immigration requests involving Afghan nationals. The agency announced the decision on Wednesday night. Officials said the suspension will remain in place indefinitely. The move follows the shooting of two National Guard soldiers in Washington. Authorities said the attack critically wounded both soldiers.
Trump calls the shooting an act of terror
President Donald Trump described the shooting as an act of terror. He said the suspect arrived from Afghanistan in 2021. He also ordered a review of all Afghan immigrants who entered under President Joe Biden. Trump said public safety remains his top priority. USCIS repeated this message in a post on X.
Suspect identified after targeted ambush
Officials said the soldiers were attacked in a targeted ambush on Wednesday afternoon. They confirmed the suspect was taken into custody after being wounded. Investigators identified him as Rahmanullah Lakanwal. They said he is a 29-year-old Afghan national who lived in Washington State. A Justice Department official said investigators are treating the incident as terrorism.
Security tightens in the capital
Trump was in Palm Beach during the shooting, while Vice President JD Vance was in Kentucky. Trump later called the suspected gunman an animal in a social media post. He also ordered 500 more Guard soldiers deployed to Washington. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said these troops will join the 2,200 already in the city.
Officials said Lakanwal arrived in 2021 through a special visa program for Afghans who aided the US military. They said he overstayed his visa and now lives in the country illegally.
White House lockdown follows the attack
The attack happened a few blocks from the White House. The building went into lockdown as law enforcement arrived. Officials said the two wounded soldiers served in the West Virginia National Guard. They were on a high-visibility patrol near 17th and I streets. Police said the suspect emerged from a corner and ambushed them.
National Guard troops subdued the suspect after an exchange of gunfire. Officials said the soldiers remain in critical condition.
Witnesses report panic and chaos
The shooting caused chaos near Farragut Square. Witnesses said people ran in fear after the first shots. A man named Mike Ryan said he heard gunfire while walking to lunch. He said he saw two wounded soldiers on the ground when he returned. Another witness said one soldier was carried away with severe injuries.
National Guard soldiers have patrolled Washington since August. Their deployment has faced criticism from local leaders and Democrats.
