US to Review Afghan Immigrants After National Guard Shooting
In the wake of a shooting incident involving two National Guard members near the White House, US President Donald Trump has called for a comprehensive review of all Afghan nationals who entered the US during Joe Biden's administration. The suspect in the shooting, identified as 29-year-old Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal, was granted asylum under the Biden administration's program.
Background and Context
The shooting incident, which took place in Washington DC, has triggered a hardline response from the Trump administration. The two National Guard members, identified as Sarah Beckstrom and Andrew Wolfe, remain in critical condition. Beckstrom, 20, tragically died from her injuries, while Wolfe, 24, is still fighting for his life.
Lakanwal, who was taken into custody shortly after the shooting, had previously worked with American forces in Afghanistan. He entered the US legally in 2021 under the Operation Allies Welcome, a Biden administration program aimed at supporting and resettling vulnerable Afghans, including those who had helped US troops in the past.
Key Developments
Following the shooting, the US has suspended the processing of all immigration requests from Afghan nationals. The attack has led to increased scrutiny of the vetting process for Afghan evacuees, with former FBI special agent Nicole Parker describing the screening process during the rushed 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan as essentially a free-for-all.
In response to the shooting, 500 more troops were ordered to be deployed to DC, and all immigration processing related to Afghan citizens was halted. Trump's administration announced it would review the immigration status of every permanent resident or green card
holder from Afghanistan and 18 other countries.
Implications and Reactions
The incident has sparked significant anxiety among recent Afghan arrivals, as they fear their futures in the US are now in jeopardy. The Trump administration's decision to undertake sweeping reviews of immigrants has been criticized by some, with President Trump himself claiming there were a lot of problems with Afghans,
without providing concrete evidence.
The shooting has also been used as a political flashpoint, with Trump blaming Biden-era immigration vetting failures for the incident. The Trump White House has specifically blamed Operation Allies Welcome for bringing the suspect to the US.
Current Status
Currently, investigations into the shooting are ongoing, with the incident being treated as a potential act of international terrorism. As US authorities work to understand the motives of the attacker, the incident continues to fuel debates about immigration and national security, with major repercussions anticipated for Afghan immigrants in the US.