An immigration lawyer has claimed that US residency interviews are being delayed following the recent shootings in Washington DC. This has created panic among the applicants.Charles Cook, an immigration attorney, said on X that lawyers participating in United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) interviews this week were told that decisions on cases were put on hold. He wrote that final decisions were being put on hold “due to the shooting that occurred Saturday night.”The claim follows an incident involving firearms during an event related to the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner at the Washington Hilton Hotel last week. A gunman attempted to breach security and opened fire near a checkpoint, leading to a shootout with a Secret Service agent. The agent was shot but survived because of his bulletproof vest. The suspect was arrested at the scene.Officials confirmed that US President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance were evacuated safely and unharmed.Law enforcement later identified the suspect as Cole Tomas Allen, a 31-year-old teacher from Torrance, California. He had already traveled to Washington and had several weapons, including a gun and a knife. Federal charges have been filed, including attempted murder and firearms offenses. Allen had sent a 1000-word manifesto to his family before committing the crime. His brother saw the document and alerted the police.Cook criticized the reported delays, calling the situation “a farce from USCIS” and accusing officials of using “any excuse to deny people the benefits they’ve paid for.” In his statement, USCIS Director Joseph B. Edlow was also criticized.He added, “Classic nativist, know-nothing idiot.”The US immigration agency has not publicly confirmed the suspension of interview decisions. Cook’s comments come amid concerns from applicants who are already going through a lengthy residency process, where applications are often delayed for months and sometimes years.Cook is the founder and managing partner of an immigration law firm and has extensive experience handling visa and citizenship cases. He represented asylum seekers in hundreds of immigration court cases.
