President Donald Trump on Thursday announced sweeping new restrictions on immigration after an Afghan national allegedly opened fire on National Guard soldiers in Washington, DC, killing one and critically injuring another.
The president said the United States would “permanently pause migration” from countries he labelled “Third World,” arguing that the nation’s systems were overwhelmed. He also vowed to reverse “millions” of admissions approved under former President Joe Biden and remove anyone who is “not a net asset.”
The announcement followed confirmation of the death of 20-year-old Guardsman Sarah Beckstrom, deployed to the capital as part of Trump’s domestic security surge. The FBI has opened an international terrorism probe.
Authorities later identified the suspected shooter as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, an Afghan national who once worked with US forces. Officials said he travelled from Washington State to carry out what prosecutors described as a “brazen and targeted” attack on troops patrolling near the White House.
Trump seized on the incident to renew his aggressive immigration agenda, linking the shooting to what he called previous “failures” in vetting migrants. “I want the American people to understand the horror of what happened,” he said during a Thanksgiving call with service members.
Joseph Edlow, head of US immigration services, ordered an immediate reevaluation of all Green Cards issued to nationals from 19 countries already under travel restrictions.
But advocacy group AfghanEvac rejected suggestions that lax screening was responsible, noting that Lakanwal received asylum in April 2025—during the Trump administration—and underwent extensive security vetting.
“This tragic event should not be used to stigmatise an entire community,” the group’s president said.
US Attorney Jeanine Pirro said the suspect used a .357 revolver to ambush the soldiers. Charges are expected to be upgraded to first-degree murder.
In response to the attack, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered an additional 500 troops to Washington, escalating a deployment that has sparked legal challenges and accusations of political overreach.
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