US Halts All Visas for Afghans After Shooting Near White House, Suspends SIV Program

The Trump administration has ordered all US diplomatic missions worldwide to immediately halt the processing of visas for Afghan nationals, Reuters reported, citing a State Department cable. The directive effectively suspends all categories of US visas for Afghans, including the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program, which has been a critical pathway for Afghans who assisted American forces during the 20-year war.

The cable instructed consular officers to reject all immigrant and non-immigrant applications submitted by Afghan passport holders. The decision comes just days after a former member of a CIA-backed Afghan unit was accused of shooting two National Guard soldiers near the White House, one of whom died from injuries.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio later confirmed the halt in a statement on X, saying that visa issuance for “ALL individuals” traveling on Afghan passports would be paused pending further review.

Visa Applications to Be Rejected, Printed Visas Cancelled

According to the cable, appointments already scheduled for Afghan applicants will still take place, but officers must refuse all visa requests. Any previously approved but unprinted visas are to be reversed, and printed visas are to be destroyed and marked as rejected in the system.

The State Department said the measure is aimed at verifying identity and eligibility under US law. However, advocacy groups argue it is an attempt to shut down Afghan immigration entirely.

Shawn VanDiver, president of Afghan Evac, criticised the move, saying it reflects a long-standing goal to bar Afghans from entering the US.

USCIS Also Halts Afghan Immigration Cases

Earlier this week, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) had already suspended the processing of Afghan immigration requests indefinitely.

Since resuming office in January, President Trump has intensified enforcement of immigration laws—deploying federal agents in major cities and restricting entry at the US-Mexico border. Following the attack in Washington, the administration appears to be expanding its focus to legal immigration channels as well.