The US has suspended the processing of all immigration requests for Afghan nationals pending a review of 'security and vetting protocols', the US Citizenship and Immigration Services announced. In a post on X, the agency stated: 'The protection and safety of our homeland and of the American people remains our singular focus and mission.' This decision comes after two National Guard soldiers were critically injured in a shooting near the White House, where the alleged assailant was identified as an Afghan national who entered the U.S. in September 2021. US President Donald Trump described the incident as an 'act of terror', asserting that measures will be taken to remove foreigners who do not belong in the country. Tens of thousands of Afghans had arrived in the U.S. under special protections after the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. Law enforcement sources indicated that the gunman was Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national who came to the U.S. via the Operation Allies Welcome program. Following the shooting, Trump emphasized the necessity for the U.S. to reevaluate every Afghan immigrant admitted during Biden's administration. The current suspension adds to an existing travel ban on Afghan nationals and others imposed earlier in the year, sparking fears regarding the status of those with Special Immigration Visas. Additionally, the Trump administration previously ended a program that offered deportation protections for many migrants from Afghanistan, which allowed them work permits due to unsafe conditions in their home country.