US Freezes Afghan Visa Program Following Fatal Attack on National Guard

Post by : Raina Nasser

In a dramatic shift, the United States has suspended the issuance of visas to Afghan passport holders following a tragic shooting that resulted in the death of a National Guard member in Washington, DC. This action represents a significant escalation in President Donald Trump’s tough immigration stance.

On Friday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that visa processing for Afghan citizens would be halted “immediately” in a bid to protect public safety. Concurrently, US immigration officials declared a freeze on all asylum applications until further notice.

The immediate cause for these measures was the identification of Afghan national Rahmanaullah Lakanwal as the shooter in Wednesday’s assault that injured two National Guard members close to the White House. Tragically, 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom lost her life, while 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe remains in critical condition.

Rubio emphasized that safeguarding American lives is the government’s foremost priority. Investigators have characterized the attack as unprovoked, with Lakanwal allegedly ambushing the soldiers while they were on their routine patrol.

Notably, the CIA confirmed that Lakanwal had previously worked for the agency in Afghanistan before relocating to the US under “Operation Allies Welcome,” a program initiated during Joe Biden's administration aimed at assisting Afghans who aided US operations.

In the wake of Beckstrom's death, the US Attorney’s Office for DC has announced enhanced charges against Lakanwal, which now include first-degree murder and multiple counts of attempted murder.

In a related announcement, USCIS director Joseph Edlow confirmed the halt on all asylum decisions to ensure thorough vetting of applicants. Additionally, a comprehensive review of green card applications from 19 “countries of concern” is underway, as instructed by President Trump.

Trump described the shooting as a “terrorist attack” and leveraged the incident to amplify his critique of Biden’s immigration strategies, particularly those facilitating Afghan resettlement. He declared on his Truth Social platform intentions to suspend immigration from what he termed “Third World countries,” although specifics on which countries were not provided.

The former president stated that individuals posing security threats would be expelled and called for measures to denaturalize those who “undermine domestic tranquility.”

Since his return to office in January, Trump has embraced some of the most stringent immigration policies in recent history. Notably, his administration announced in October that only 7,500 refugees would be permitted entry in 2026, marking the lowest quota since the 1980s.

These latest developments indicate a persistent tightening of immigration protocols, wielding profound consequences for Afghan nationals and refugees seeking asylum in the US.