In an unprecedented move, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced late Wednesday evening it has suspended all immigration processing for Afghan nationals indefinitely, citing the need for enhanced security reviews following a shooting that left two National Guard soldiers critically wounded in Washington, D.C.
The sweeping halt affects every category of immigration benefit available to Afghan applicants, including work authorization permits, asylum claims, refugee applications, naturalization petitions, and family-based immigration benefits. The decision marks one of the most comprehensive immigration suspensions targeting a single nationality in recent memory.
The suspension comes in the wake of a shooting incident earlier Wednesday that saw two National Guard members sustain critical injuries near the nation’s capital. While authorities have not yet established any direct connection between the shooting and Afghan immigrants, the timing of USCIS’s announcement suggests heightened security concerns are driving the policy change.
This dramatic policy shift aligns with recent calls from the Trump administration for a comprehensive reevaluation of Afghan nationals who entered the United States during the previous Biden administration’s tenure. The move affects thousands of Afghan applicants currently navigating the U.S. immigration system, many of whom fled their homeland following the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.
The indefinite nature of the suspension leaves Afghan families and individuals in legal limbo, uncertain when their cases might resume processing. Immigration attorneys and advocacy groups are likely to challenge the blanket suspension, arguing it may violate due process rights and international obligations to protect refugees.
USCIS officials indicated the pause will remain in effect while the agency conducts what they describe as “further review of security and vetting protocols.” The agency has not provided a timeline for when normal processing might resume or what specific security enhancements are being considered.
The decision represents a significant departure from standard immigration procedures, where individual cases are typically evaluated on their merits rather than being suspended based on nationality. The broad scope of the halt suggests the administration views current vetting procedures for Afghan nationals as insufficient.
For the thousands of Afghan nationals currently awaiting decisions on their immigration cases, the suspension creates immediate uncertainty about their ability to remain in the United States, work legally, or reunite with family members still overseas.
