U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that he intends to suspend immigration from what he described as “third-world countries,” following the alleged involvement of an Afghan national in a shooting incident in Washington, D.C., in which a National Guard soldier was killed.
In a strongly worded statement, Trump also indicated that he may seek to rescind what he characterized as “millions” of immigration admissions approved under the Biden administration. These assertions represent a substantial escalation of the restrictive immigration policies already adopted during his current term, which has been marked by large-scale enforcement actions and deportation initiatives.
Earlier the same day, Trump confirmed that 20-year-old National Guard member Sarah Beckstrom, deployed to Washington as part of federal crime-reduction operations, had died from injuries sustained in the attack. Federal authorities, including the FBI, have initiated an international terrorism inquiry, with emerging information concerning the alleged assailant, a 29-year-old Afghan national who had previously assisted U.S. forces in Afghanistan.
Officials have described the shooting as an “ambush-style” incident that intersects with several politically sensitive issues, including Trump’s domestic deployment of military personnel, ongoing national debates on immigration, and the broader consequences of the United States’ withdrawal from Afghanistan.
On social media, Trump stated: “I will permanently pause migration from all Third World Countries to allow the U.S. system to fully recover.” He further indicated his intention to reverse immigration benefits granted under the Biden administration and to “remove anyone who is not a net asset to the United States.”
During a Thanksgiving video conference with U.S. service members, Trump framed the shooting as a “terrorist attack” and sought to justify the deployment of additional National Guard units to the capital.
Joseph Edlow, Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, later announced a comprehensive review of all permanent resident applications submitted by nationals of “countries of concern,” referencing a list of 19 countries previously subject to travel limitations under a June executive order. USCIS also confirmed an immediate halt to the processing of Afghan immigration applications.
The second Guard member injured in the attack remained in critical condition as of Thursday. Federal prosecutors have charged the alleged gunman, identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, with multiple counts of assault with intent to kill, noting that charges will be upgraded to first-degree murder should additional fatalities occur.
Authorities continue to investigate the motive for the attack.
Additional disclosures from intelligence officials indicate that the suspect had previously served in a CIA-supported partner force combating the Taliban and had been relocated to the United States under a government-run evacuation program. Trump administration officials argued that the suspect gained entry due to insufficient vetting relating to post-withdrawal asylum procedures.
However, AfghanEvac—a non-profit organization involved in Afghan resettlement—asserted that such individuals undergo extensive screening and noted that the suspect had been granted asylum in April 2025, during Trump’s presidency, with eligibility to pursue lawful permanent residence thereafter. The organization cautioned against using an isolated incident to stigmatize an entire community.
Following the incident, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth authorized the deployment of an additional 500 troops to Washington, D.C., increasing the total number of National Guard personnel in the capital to approximately 2,500. Trump has ordered similar deployments in several Democrat-led cities, actions that have prompted litigation and accusations of executive overreach.#newsafro_
