US halts immigration from Afghanistan following attack on National Guards near White House
PTC News Desk: In a significant development, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) stopped the immigration from Afghanistan following arrest of Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29-year-old Afghan national who shot two National Guard troops only a few blocks away from White House.
“Effective immediately, processing of all immigration requests relating to Afghan nationals is stopped indefinitely pending further review of security and vetting protocols. The protections and safety of our homeland and of the American people remains our singular focus and mission,” the agency said on X, platform formerly known as Twitter.
The suspect was shot and detained immediately after attacking the troops.
Soon after Lakanwal was identified, President Donald Trump issued a stern statement, calling Afghanistan a ‘hell hole on earth’. “I can report tonight that based on the best available information, the Department of Homeland Security is confident that the suspect in custody is a foreigner who entered our country from Afghanistan," he said.
Afghanistan has not issued any response over immigration move by the United States.
WHile describing the attack as monstrous, President Donald Trump said that the assault was an act of evil, hatred and terror.
“Earlier today on the eve of the thanksgiving holiday, two members of the National Guard serving in Washington DC were shot at point blank range in a monstrous, ambush styled attack just steps away from the White House. This heinous assault was an act of evil and an act of hatred and an act of terror. It was a crime against our entire nation, it was a crime against humanity. The hearts of all Americans tonight are with those two members of the West Virginian National Guards and their families,” he said.
- With inputs from agencies
