The United States has immediately paused issuing visas to all individuals travelling on Afghan passports, days after an Afghan national shot two National Guard members near the White House, killing one.
In a statement posted on X, the US Department of State said:
“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.”
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the decision, emphasising that safeguarding the American people remains the government’s “highest priority.”
What Triggered the Visa Suspension?
The move follows the November 26 shooting, where 20-year-old Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom was fatally shot, and 24-year-old Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe was critically injured while on patrol just blocks from the White House.
The attacker, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national who arrived in the US in 2021 under a resettlement programme for Afghans who assisted American forces, was later granted asylum during the Trump presidency. He was wounded in a gunfight with responding troops.
Investigators say Lakanwal travelled from his Washington residence across the country before ambushing the two Guardsmen with a high-powered revolver.
Broader Immigration Crackdown Under Trump
The shooting has triggered sweeping policy changes. President Donald Trump announced he would:
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“Permanently pause” migration from all “Third World countries”
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Terminate all “illegal admissions” made under the Biden administration
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End federal benefits for non-citizens
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Deport foreign nationals considered security risks
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Denaturalise individuals deemed threats to domestic stability
The decision to halt visas for Afghan passport holders marks the administration’s first formal immigration tightening following the attack.
