The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced an indefinite suspension of all immigration requests involving Afghan nationals, saying the halt takes effect immediately as security and vetting procedures undergo further review.
In its statement, USCIS said that “the protection and safety of our homeland and of the American people remains our singular focus and mission,” underscoring that the pause will remain in place until the agency completes its updated assessment.
The decision follows remarks from US President Donald Trump, who called for a comprehensive review of Afghan immigration protocols under President Joe Biden after a recent shooting incident in Washington, D.C., which left two National Guard members in critical condition.
US officials have not provided a timeline for reinstating immigration processing for Afghan applicants, and further details on the scope of the review are expected in the coming days.
