The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on Wednesday, November 26, 2025, with an urgent and official statement following Rahmanullah Lakanwal’s attack on two U.S. National Guardsmen, that it is immediately suspending the review of all asylum applications, humanitarian visas, temporary protected status adjustments, and any immigration-related cases involving Afghan nationals until further notice.
Kabul 24: This action represents the largest collective suspension of immigration cases since the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021, leaving thousands in complete uncertainty. In a statement posted on the social network X (formerly Twitter), USCIS emphasized:”Effective immediately, processing of all immigration requests related to Afghan nationals is halted. This indefinite suspension will remain in place until a comprehensive review of security protocols and screening procedures is completed.
Protecting national security, the homeland, and the lives of American citizens is our absolute priority and core mission.”This decision was made just hours after a bloody and shocking incident in the heart of the U.S. capital.
Who is Rahmanullah Lakanwal?
Around 10:45 p.m. on Tuesday (local Washington time), a 29-year-old individual named Rahmanullah Lakanwal ambushed two members of the West Virginia National Guard who were on security patrol near 17th Street and Lafayette Park (less than 300 meters from the White House).Lakanwal, armed with a Glock 19 semi-automatic pistol equipped with an extended magazine, first shouted “Allahu Akbar” before firing at least 14 rounds.
The two soldiers—Second Lieutenant Michael Harris (Michael Harris) and Sergeant Sarah King (Sarah King)—sustained severe wounds to the chest and abdomen and were rushed in critical condition to George Washington University Hospital.
Agents from the White House Secret Service and U.S. Capitol Police arrested him after a brief exchange of gunfire in which the attacker was shot in the legs.Authorities have described this attack as a “targeted terrorist act,” and investigations into Lakanwal’s potential ties to foreign extremist groups are ongoing.
Military Background and Ties to U.S. ForcesPrior to entering the U.S., Lakanwal had a close history of collaboration with U.S. forces in Afghanistan.
He worked as an interpreter for American troops in Kandahar Province and was a member of the elite “01 Unit” of the former Republic of Afghanistan’s army.
This unit was established, trained, and equipped by the CIA and played a key role in sensitive operations such as night raids and capture/kill missions.News sources and media reports indicate that Lakanwal was also a member of the “Kandahar Strike Force” (KSF), which operated from “Firebase GECKO” and directly partnered with U.S. special forces.
John Ratcliffe, the incoming CIA director, stated in an interview with Fox News: “He should never have been allowed to enter here.”A published photo of Lakanwal’s job identification card confirms his identity as a former Afghan special forces soldier and shows his rank as E-5 (Sergeant).
According to documents from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Lakanwal entered the U.S. in September 2021 as a former interpreter for American forces in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan, via the Operation Allies Welcome emergency evacuation program (launched by the Joe Biden administration).He applied for asylum in December 2024 and was approved in April 2025 (three months after Donald Trump took office). Notably, Lakanwal had been under brief FBI surveillance in 2023 due to “indicators of extremist thoughts,” but his case was closed without further action.He had no prior criminal record.
Donald Trump, the U.S. President, stated in a brief speech from Florida (from his residence in Palm Beach) early Thursday morning:”This attack was an act of evil, hatred, and terrorism. It broke our hearts, but it strengthened our resolve to protect America. We must re-examine every Afghan migrant who entered under the Biden administration and take the necessary steps to deport anyone who does not benefit our country. We will not overlook any threat.”
Trump attributed the incident to the previous administration’s immigration policies and pledged to scrutinize “every Afghan case.”These remarks received widespread support from Republicans, while Democrats called them an “emotional and unfair reaction.”Currently, over 92,000 Afghan asylum and status adjustment cases are frozen in USCIS’s queue.
This suspension not only halts new applications but also leaves thousands of Afghans waiting in third countries (such as Qatar or the UAE) facing a completely uncertain future.
Human rights organizations like Amnesty International have described this decision as “collective punishment and a violation of human rights,” warning that it could lead to increased illegal migration and humanitarian crises in the region.However, an instant poll by Fox News shows that 68% of Americans support this suspension, especially amid rising security concerns following recent attacks.
Washington, D.C., is now in full alert status: National Guard forces have been reinforced around the White House, Congress, and sensitive landmarks, and federal police have doubled security measures.Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser, in a press conference early this morning, described the attack as “targeted and domestic” and urged citizens to remain vigilant.This event not only transforms U.S. immigration policy but also escalates domestic political tensions.
Trump has used this opportunity to attack “Biden’s open immigration policies,” while Biden (now a former president and critic) called it “an attempt to sow fear.”The international community is also following developments with concern; in the end, this incident serves as a bitter reminder of the challenges of integrating migrants into host societies, especially in a country that has resettled over 100,000 Afghans since 2021.
Is this suspension temporary or a prelude to permanent changes? Time will tell, but for thousands of Afghan families, this “freeze” could last for years.
