US Halts Immigration Applications from 19 Countries Following DC Shooting

The Trump administration has suspended the processing of all immigration applications, including green cards and naturalizations, for individuals from 19 countries previously subject to travel bans. This decision follows a recent shooting near the White House, where an Afghan national allegedly attacked two National Guard members, resulting in one death and another injury. The affected nations include Afghanistan, Iran, Somalia, and Yemen, among others. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has directed staff to "stop final adjudication on all cases" involving applicants from these countries. USCIS Director Joseph Edlow stated that the agency is conducting a comprehensive review of all approved benefit requests for immigrants who entered the U.S. during the Biden administration. Critics argue that this move amounts to collective punishment of immigrants from the targeted nations.