The United States has indefinitely suspended all immigration-related processing for Afghan nationals, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on Wednesday. The pause applies to both pending and newly submitted cases and comes as federal authorities conduct a comprehensive review of vetting and security procedures.

In a statement, USCIS emphasized that national security remains the top priority, saying: “The protection and safety of our homeland and of the American people remains our singular focus and mission.” No timeline has been provided for when the review will conclude or when normal processing might resume.

The decision follows a high-profile security incident near the White House in Washington, D.C., where two members of the West Virginia National Guard were shot near the Farragut West metro station. Officials described the attack as a “targeted ambush.” The suspect, 29-year-old Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal, entered the U.S. in September 2021 under the Operation Allies Welcome program, which resettled Afghan evacuees after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Both National Guard members remain in critical condition, while Lakanwal was also injured and is now in custody. The FBI and local law enforcement are leading the investigation and are treating the incident as a possible act of terrorism.

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USCIS’s move reflects heightened security concerns and may impact thousands of Afghan nationals awaiting U.S. immigration processing. Authorities have reiterated that the review is aimed at ensuring the safety of both the American public and Afghan applicants undergoing immigration procedures.