“No Afghan Entry”: US Suspends Visas to Afghan Nationals

DID Press: In the latest fallout from the recent shooting incident near the White House, the U.S. Secretary of State announced a halt to all types of visas for Afghan nationals.

Marco Rubio, the U.S. Secretary of State, said the government has suspended the issuance of all visas for Afghans “until further notice.” According to him, this decision is part of an “immediate review of Washington’s security and immigration policies” following Wednesday night’s shooting near the White House, in which an Afghan national was arrested as the main suspect.

Rubio emphasized that the suspension covers all visa categories—including family, student, work, and humanitarian visas—and said the goal is to “prevent any potential security threat.”

The move has sparked widespread reactions among analysts and migrant-rights advocates, who argue that Washington should not use a single incident as a pretext to collectively punish millions of Afghans—especially at a time when many are seeking to leave the country due to security threats and humanitarian difficulties.

Despite the criticism, U.S. officials say the review process is ongoing and no changes will be made until final security assessments are completed.

Last Wednesday, a shooting near the White House resulted in the death of one of two U.S. National Guard soldiers. The attacker, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan, is accused of shooting the two service members.

Reports indicate that he was part of a unit that had cooperated with the CIA during the war in Afghanistan.

The incident has brought three sensitive issues—domestic military presence, immigration policy, and the legacy of the 20-year Afghanistan war—back to the center of political tension in the United States.