The Trump administration has paused immigration applications submitted by nationals from 19 countries that were banned from travel earlier this year, according to a US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) policy document.

The agency, tasked with processing and approving all requests for immigration benefits, said in the memo that the reason for the pause was the shooting of two National Guard troops. One was fatally wounded.

An Afghan who entered the US legally during the Biden administration has been charged with first-degree murder and assault with intent to kill over the incident.

The shooting near the White House has heightened scrutiny for people from Afghanistan and the 18 other countries that the Trump administration describes as high-risk.

The immigration applic

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