In the wake of a shooting incident near the White House involving an Afghan national, the United States has taken a significant step by indefinitely halting all immigration requests from Afghan citizens. The suspect, identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, critically injured two National Guard members. Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national, arrived in the US in 2021 under a resettlement program, raising questions about the vetting process for Afghan arrivals.
The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced the suspension of all immigration requests related to Afghan nationals, including work permits and asylum applications, pending a thorough review of security and vetting protocols. This decision comes after the shooting incident in Washington, where two National Guard soldiers were shot and critically wounded.
Operation Allies Welcome, a federal initiative aimed at assisting Afghans fleeing the Taliban, has come under scrutiny following the shooting incident. Investigations have revealed significant data inaccuracies and a lack of thorough oversight within the program, highlighting concerns about the effectiveness of the vetting process for Afghan immigrants.
Furthermore, the Trump administration has announced a review of the immigration status of every permanent resident or “green card” holder from Afghanistan and 18 other countries in response to the attack on National Guard troops in Washington. The suspect in the shooting incident had been granted asylum earlier this year, not permanent residency.
President Trump has labeled the shooting as an act of terror, with one of the National Guard soldiers succumbing to her injuries. While officials have not disclosed a motive for the attack, they believe it was a targeted assault.
The incident has sparked a debate on the efficacy of immigration vetting processes and the need for enhanced security measures for individuals arriving in the US under various resettlement programs. The decision to halt Afghan immigration requests reflects a cautious approach to safeguarding national security in the face of potential threats.
Overall, the shooting incident near the White House involving an Afghan national has prompted the US to reevaluate its immigration policies and vetting procedures, underscoring the importance of ensuring the safety and security of the country and its citizens.
Political Bias Index: Neutral
References:
1. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/all-immigration-requests-us-takes-major-step-after-afghan-national-named-shooter-entry-traced-to-2021/articleshow/125604270.cms
2. https://www.usnn.news/uscis-stops-processing-all-afghan-immigration-requests-after-dc-national-guard-shooting/
3. https://internewscast.com/news/us/meet-rahmanullah-lakanwal-the-afghan-national-linked-to-the-dc-national-guardsmen-shooting/
4. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/how-rahmanullah-lakanwal-made-it-from-afghanistan-to-us-before-white-house-shooting-inside-operation-allies-welcome/articleshow/125622030.cms
5. https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3334434/trump-admin-reviewing-every-green-card-19-countries-after-washington-shooting?utm_source=rss_feed
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