Donald Trump has halted all immigration applications from 19 countries in the wake of the shooting of two members of the National Guard. The administration has also cancelled all citizenship ceremonies across the US, citing national security and public safety grounds.

Joseph Edlow, director of the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) said that the decision had been taken to ensure that “every alien is vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible”. The shooting in Washington DC on November 26 left one servicewoman dead and another critically ill in hospital. Afghan man Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who worked with US forces during the ‘war on terror’ and was granted asylum under the Biden administration, was arrested following the killing, prompting the president to pledge to “permanently pause migration” from all “third world countries”.

Speaking with NBC News on Wednesday, a relative of Lakanwal said he arrived in the U.S. in September 2021 after serving in the Afghan Army for 10 years, alongside U.S. Special Forces. Lakanwal was living in Bellingham, Washington, with his wife and five children, the relative said.

The relative added: “We were the ones that were targeted by the Taliban in Afghanistan,

“I cannot believe it that he might do this.”

A memo announcing the new policy refers to last week’s “terror attack”, adding: “USCIS has determined that the burden of processing delays that will fall on some applicants is necessary and appropriate in this instance, when weighed against the agency’s obligation to protect and preserve national security.”

The New York Times initially reported the decision which could affect more than 1.5 million people.

US Citizenship and Immigration Services spokesman Matthew Tragesser said: “The Trump administration is making every effort to ensure individuals becoming citizens are the best of the best. Citizenship is a privilege, not a right.

“We will take no chances when the future of our nation is at stake.”

The application ban applies to 19 different countries, predominantly from Africa and Asia. It includes a complete ban for 12 countries and severe restrictions for seven more.

The complete ban, which prevents entry into the United States, includes countries such as Afghanistan, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. Severe restrictions on access now apply to citizens of Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela.

The Department of Homeland Security has indictated that it is considering expanding the list of banned countries, which could potentially rise to 30 in the coming days.

An agency spokesperson told the Washington Post that they “will be announcing the list soon.”