US halts Afghan immigration after DC attack sparks political firestorm

The United States has abruptly halted all immigration processing for Afghan nationals after a shooting in Washington, DC left two National Guard members critically injured — a move that has triggered a fierce political backlash and reignited debates over post-war Afghan resettlement.

The suspension was announced late Thursday by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), which said the freeze would remain in place indefinitely while federal authorities reassess vetting and security protocols.

“Effective immediately, processing of all immigration requests relating to Afghan nationals is stopped indefinitely pending further review,” USCIS posted on X. “The protection and safety of our homeland and of the American people remains our singular focus and mission.”

The halt applies to all immigration pathways for Afghans, including asylum petitions, visas, green card adjustments and family reunification cases — affecting thousands who fled Taliban rule or remain stranded abroad.

Political blame erupts as Trump points to Biden policy

The USCIS decision followed remarks from President Donald Trump, who blamed the attack on what he called “reckless and weak” Biden-era immigration policies. Trump said the suspect — reportedly an Afghan national — was allowed entry and extended stay under programs launched after the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.

“The DHS is confident that the suspect in custody is a foreigner who entered our country from Afghanistan,” Trump said. “He was flown in by the Biden Administration in September 2021 on those infamous flights. His status was extended under legislation signed by President Biden.”

Calling the incident a “national security failure,” Trump said the federal government must now scrutinise every Afghan who entered the US after the Taliban takeover.

“We must now reexamine every single alien who has entered our country from Afghanistan under Biden,” he added. “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.”

The shooting, the halted immigration pipeline and the political blame game now mark the most explosive flashpoint in the national immigration debate since the end of the 20-year US war in Afghanistan — with thousands of Afghan families now facing indefinite uncertainty.