Immigration Changes Update Following the D.C. Shooting

Washington, D.C., Nov 29: Tributes are increasing for the National Guard member who was killed, while another remains critically injured following the November 29, 2025, shooting.

President Donald Trump has intensified his campaign to limit legal immigration in response to the fatal attack near the White House last week. Authorities have identified 29-year-old Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal as the alleged shooter. Following this, Trump has escalated anti-immigrant rhetoric and introduced extensive new restrictions on legal immigration.

The administration's immigration review includes halting all asylum decisions, tightening Green Card procedures, and suspending visa issuance for Afghan nationals. Lakanwal, who reportedly assisted the CIA during the U.S. militarys two-decade operations against the Taliban, came to the U.S. through Operation Allies Welcome, a program initiated under the Biden administration to aid Afghan allies. He received asylum earlier this year under the Trump administration.

One of the attacked Guardsmen, 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom, died, while Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, remains in critical condition.

Shawn VanDiver, president of the nonprofit AfghanEvac, criticized the Trump administration, stating that it is punishing the Afghan community for the actions of a single individual. They are using a single violent individual as cover for a preexisting policy, turning intelligence lapses into justification to target a whole community and the veterans who served alongside them, he said.

The Afghan Community Coalition of the United States expressed condolences but urged Americans to remember twenty years of Afghan-U.S. partnership.

Immediately after the shooting, Trump announced on Truth Social a permanent pause on migration from all Third World countries and the termination of what he called millions of Biden illegal admissions, without specifying the nations. USCIS Director Joe Edlow confirmed a full review of all Green Cards for individuals from countries of concern, which are based on a June White House proclamation restricting travel and visas for 19 nations.

The fully restricted countries include Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. A second tier with partial restrictions includes Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela. USCIS guidance states it will consider country-specific factors but provides no detailed examples.

Edlow emphasized maximum vetting for all immigrants, claiming the previous administration prioritized rapid resettlement over safety. However, DHS records show that Operation Allies Welcome included extensive, multi-agency screening and vetting procedures.

USCIS also announced a pause on all asylum decisions until it can ensure complete vetting. Asylum seekers are individuals fearing persecution due to race, religion, nationality, social group, or political opinion. Trump intends to maintain this suspension for an extended period as part of a broader crackdown on immigration.

Afghan nationals are specifically affected, with all visa issuance currently on hold. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that protecting the nation is the highest priority. This pause impacts the Special Immigrant Visa program for Afghans who assisted U.S. forces, a program previously supported across party lines.

VanDiver criticized the halt as violating federal law and court orders, highlighting the suffering of Afghan allies. Nearly 36 million people worldwide were refugees at the end of 2024, with about one-sixth from Afghanistan. This action aligns with other Trump administration measures reviewing refugees admitted under President Biden, potentially reopening thousands of cases.

Author: Sophia Brooks