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The U.S. government has indefinitely suspended all immigration processing for Afghan nationals following an incident where two National Guard members were shot and injured in Washington, D.C. The suspect has been identified as an Afghan national, prompting an immediate and sweeping policy change from the Trump administration.
The incident occurred near the White House complex, a high-security area, leading to a swift response from law enforcement and the government. In a statement, President Donald Trump announced the halt to processing, declaring a need to "re-examine all of the Afghan nationals the Biden administration brought to our country." This decision freezes all pending and new applications, including those for the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program, which was designed for Afghans who worked alongside U.S. forces.
The suspension effectively closes what many considered the last significant path to safety for thousands of Afghans at risk under Taliban rule. Many had been waiting for years for their applications to be processed, and this abrupt stop has plunged them into a state of uncertainty and fear. Advocacy groups and veterans' organizations have condemned the move, arguing that it punishes an entire population for the actions of a single individual and constitutes a betrayal of allies who risked their lives to support the American mission in Afghanistan.
According to reports, the decision impacts not only SIV applicants but also those seeking humanitarian parole and other forms of entry into the United States. The federal government's sudden immigration freeze has been criticized for its broad scope, leaving families stranded and allies in peril. The administration has defended the measure as a necessary step to protect national security while it conducts a thorough review of vetting procedures. However, the move has amplified concerns over the fate of Afghans who collaborated with international forces and now face reprisals from the Taliban. The shooting has prompted a major policy review with widespread humanitarian consequences, severing a critical lifeline for vulnerable populations.
