The Trump administration has suspended the processing of all immigration applications from Afghan nationals following a shooting near the White House that left two National Guard soldiers critically injured. The move comes after authorities identified the suspect as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan immigrant who entered the United States in 2021 and was granted asylum earlier this year.
According to officials, the attack unfolded on Wednesday afternoon near the Farragut Square Metro station, just a few blocks from the White House. The two Guardsmen were on a high-visibility patrol—part of a broader law-enforcement support mission ordered months ago by President Donald Trump—when the suspect reportedly approached the intersection of 17th and I Streets NW and opened fire without warning. Metropolitan Police Assistant Chief Jeff Carroll described the incident as an “ambush,” noting that other Guardsmen in the vicinity intervened rapidly, subduing the suspect until police arrived. Lakanwal was shot several times during the confrontation.
The Department of Homeland Security identified the suspect as a 29-year-old Afghan national who had lived in Washington state. Records show that he entered the country under Operation Allies Welcome—program established under former President Joe Biden—to resettle Afghans who had assisted U.S. forces or feared reprisals after the Taliban’s return to power. A Trump administration official said Lakanwal applied for asylum in December 2024 and that the application was approved in April 2025.
In response to the attack, President Trump released a statement calling the shooting “an act of evil, an act of hatred and an act of terror.” He also announced that his administration would re-examine all Afghan nationals who entered the U.S. during the Biden presidency, citing concerns about security vetting under earlier policies.
Shortly afterward, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services confirmed that it had halted all immigration processing related to Afghan applicants, pending a review of existing security protocols.
The move comes as part of President Donald Trump’s broader crackdown on illegal immigration. Earlier this year, the United States deported around 400 Iranian nationals, the majority of whom entered the country illegally. The Trump White House has emphasized that its immigration policies aim to curb illegal border crossings—which surged under the Biden administration.
