Trump suspends all Afghan immigration after National Guard shooting

The State Department immediately paused visa issuance for all Afghan passport holders following the fatal shooting of National Guard Spc. Sarah Beckstrom by Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national with prior CIA paramilitary training. The suspension covered all nonimmigrant and immigrant visa categories. Effective January 1, 2026, a presidential proclamation extended the ban, with limited exceptions only for Special Immigrant Visas already processed.