Tehran: President Donald Trump announced plans to suspend migration from countries he described as third world, following an incident in which an Afghan national allegedly shot two National Guard soldiers in Washington, resulting in the death of one.
According to Nam News Network, Trump's statement on social media also threatened to reverse millions of admissions granted under his predecessor Joe Biden, signaling an intensification of his administration's anti-migration stance amidst a second term heavily focused on mass deportation. Trump confirmed that Sarah Beckstrom, a 20-year-old member of the West Virginia National Guard deployed in Washington as part of his crackdown on crime, had succumbed to her injuries.
The FBI has initiated an international terror investigation as further details emerged about the alleged shooter, a 29-year-old Afghan national previously affiliated with a CIA counterterrorism unit in Afghanistan, as reported by multiple US media outlets. The attack, described by officials as an ambush-style shooting, intersects with three contentious issues: Trump's deployment of military forces domestically, immigration policies, and the enduring legacy of the US involvement in 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 threatened to rescind millions of admissions approved under Biden's tenure and ensure the removal of individuals not considered a net asset to the nation.
During a Thanksgiving video call with US troops, Trump expressed national grief over the incident, linking the shooting to his decision to station hundreds of National Guard troops in the capital. He speculated that the suspect might have been disgruntled due to his inability to engage in criminal activities.
Joseph Edlow, Director of US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), announced a comprehensive reexamination of Green Cards for individuals from countries deemed of concern. This directive referenced a list of 19 countries, including Afghanistan, Cuba, Haiti, Iran, and Myanmar, that faced US travel restrictions under a previous Trump order.
The Trump administration had already halted the processing of immigration applications from Afghanistan. Meanwhile, Andrew Wolfe, the other soldier injured in the attack, was reported to be in critical condition.
US Attorney for Washington DC, Jeanine Pirro, identified the suspect as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who had been residing in Washington state before traveling to the capital. She described the incident as a calculated and targeted attack, in which the gunman used a .357 Smith and Wesson revolver against guardsmen patrolling near the White House. The suspect faces charges of assault with intent to kill, which could escalate to first-degree murder if any guardsmen succumb to their injuries.
Officials remain unclear on the motive behind the shooting. CIA Director John Ratcliffe stated that the suspect was part of a CIA-supported force fighting the Taliban and was relocated to the US as part of a program to evacuate Afghan allies. Senior officials, including those from the FBI and Homeland Security, criticized the asylum policies following the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, suggesting these allowed unvetted access to the US.
AfghanEvac, an organization aiding Afghan resettlement in the US, defended the rigorous security vetting process for migrants, noting that Lakanwal was granted asylum in April 2025 under the Trump administration and was eligible to apply for permanent residency a year later. The group's president, Shawn VanDiver, cautioned against using this isolated act of violence to stigmatize an entire community.
In response to the shooting, Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth announced the deployment of an additional 500 troops to Washington, increasing the total number to 2,500.