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New Delhi: In another strict move after the Washington DC shooting, the Trump administration had suspended visa issuance for all individuals travelling on Afghan passports. This is one of the series of actions taken by the US after an Afghan national opened fire at two National Guards near the White House on Wednesday, killing one of them. The gunman, identified as 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, had arrived in the country in September 2021.
In a statement, the Department of State said that it is taking all necessary steps to protect US national security and public safety, describing the suspension as an urgent precautionary measure.
“The Department of State has IMMEDIATELY paused visa issuance for individuals traveling on Afghan passports. The Department is taking all necessary steps to protect U.S. national security and public safety," it said in a post on X.
Besides, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has also halted all asylum decisions until all migrants can be rigorously vetted and screened. “USCIS has halted all asylum decisions until we can ensure that every alien is vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible. The safety of the American people always comes first," USCIS Director Joseph B Edlow said in a post on X.
The moves are part of the Trump administration's larger crackdown on immigration. Earlier, the State Department suspended immigration requests from Afghans.
The Trump administration on Thursday directed a "full-scale, rigorous reexamination of every Green Card for every alien from every country of concern". It further directed a widespread review of asylum cases approved under former President Joe Biden.
Washington shooting
The Afghan national, identified as 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, allegedly shot at two National Guard members -- Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and Staff Sgt Andrew Wolfe, 24 -— on Wednesday afternoon. One of them succumbed to injuries on Thursday. The gunman allegedly entered the United States in 2021 through Operation Allies Welcome, an initiative launched by the then President Biden after the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan. He was reportedly granted asylum this year under Trump.
