In a bold attack in the center of Washington, D.C., two National Guard soldiers were seriously injured. As a direct result, the United States has decided to temporarily stop all immigration applications from Afghan citizens. The Department of Homeland Security announced this major policy change after an event officials have called an "ambush." The attacker is reported to be an Afghan man who came to the U.S. during the evacuation in 2021.
The shooting happened on Wednesday afternoon near the Farragut Square Metro Station, very close to the White House. Police Assistant Chief Jeff Carroll said the suspect, a 29-year-old Afghan national named Rahmanullah Lakanwal, turned a corner and immediately began shooting in a planned attack. The two wounded soldiers, who are from the West Virginia National Guard, were taken to the hospital and remain in critical condition. Police officers shot and arrested the suspect.
President Donald Trump strongly criticized the "monstrous" attack, calling it an act of terror. He promised to review the status of every person who came from Afghanistan under the last administration and to remove those who "do not belong here." The U.S. immigration service confirmed it has paused all Afghan immigration cases. This pause will continue while the government carries out a full review of its security checks.
The suspect's history is now at the center of a political debate. The Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, stated that Lakanwal entered the U.S. without proper checks through a program called Operation Allies Welcome. This program, which began under President Biden, brought around 77,000 Afghans to America. Secretary Noem claimed the program allowed thousands of unvetted people, including terrorists, into the country.
However, other officials point out that Lakanwal applied for and was granted asylum in 2024 and 2025, a legal process that involves security checks. This difference between the political story and the legal facts shows the complexity of the situation.
Following the attack, President Trump has ordered 500 more National Guard members to be sent to Washington. The long-term effects could be more significant, possibly leading to a large re-examination of the status of thousands of Afghans who came to the U.S. seeking safety. Their futures now depend on a tense security review.