U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on 26/11 that all immigration processing procedures related to Afghan citizens would be indefinitely halted. This decision took immediate effect, pending a review of security procedures and background checks. "Protecting and ensuring the safety of our country and the American people remains our sole focus and mission", USCIS stated.

Following the incident, President Donald Trump ordered federal agencies to review all cases of Afghan citizens who entered the US after Washington withdrew its troops from the South Asian nation in 2021.

These actions by the US administration came after two national guardsmen were seriously wounded while on duty near the White House. The suspect was also shot and taken to the hospital; the motive for the attack remains unclear.

FBI Director Kash Patel speaks at a press conference in Washington, D.C. on 27/11. *Photo: AFP*

The suspect was identified as Rahmanaullah Lakanwal, 29 years old, an Afghan citizen who entered the US in 9/2021 under President Joe Biden's Operation Allies Welcome. This program facilitated the entry of Afghans who had to leave their country after the Taliban took power in 8/2021.

President Trump described the shooting as a "terrorist act". FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed that the agency is investigating the incident with support from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Secret Service, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Speaking at the Mar-a-Lago resort on the evening of 26/11, Mr. Trump criticized his predecessor over Operation Allies Welcome, describing Mr. Biden as a "terrible president".

Vice President JD Vance echoed Mr. Trump's sentiments. He stated, "That year I criticized Mr. Biden for his open-door policy welcoming unvetted Afghans. My friends called me racist. That was a moment that helped me clearly see the nature of the problem. Those people should not have been in our country."

The U.S.-based Migration Policy Institute reported that as of 2022, approximately 195,000 Afghan immigrants were living in the country, largely concentrated in Washington, D.C., and Sacramento, California.

One day before the shooting, the Trump administration had ordered USCIS to "re-interview" approximately 200,000 refugees who had entered the US. The purpose was to verify if they met the "definition of a refugee under the Immigration and Nationality Act" at the time of their reception.

Huyen Le (According to Hill, AFP)