Trump Announces Indefinite Asylum Freeze Following National Guard Tragedy
President Donald Trump has declared his administration will maintain a suspension on asylum decisions for "a long time" following a shooting incident near the White House that left one National Guard member dead and another critically injured. When pressed for specifics about the duration of this measure, Trump stated he had "no time limit" in mind for the policy implementation.
The Department of Homeland Security has linked this decision to existing travel restrictions affecting 19 countries. "We don't want those people," Trump told reporters, adding "You know why we don't want them? Because many have been no good, and they shouldn't be in our country."
White House Response to National Guard Shooting
In response to the tragic events, President Trump revealed he has invited the family of slain US Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom to the White House. The 20-year-old soldier was killed in Wednesday's shooting in Washington DC, while her colleague, US Air Force Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe, 24, remains hospitalised in critical condition.
"I said: 'When you're ready, because that's a tough thing, come to the White House. We're going to honour Sarah,'" Trump explained to journalists. "And likewise with Andrew, recover or not." The statement came as vigils across West Virginia commemorated both service members.
Controversy Surrounds Shooting Suspect
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem claimed the alleged shooter, 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, was "radicalised" within the United States, despite records showing his asylum application was approved under the Trump administration in April 2025. The suspect had previously worked with CIA-backed units in Afghanistan and entered the US in September 2021 through the Operation Allies Welcome programme.
Meanwhile, experts are raising alarms about the systematic dismantling of oversight mechanisms within the Department of Homeland Security. Former federal officials warn that the gutting of watchdog systems could enable the Trump administration to "abuse people with impunity" regarding immigration enforcement and detention practices.
Additional Presidential Actions
In separate developments, President Trump granted clemency to private equity executive David Gentile, who had recently begun serving a seven-year prison sentence for his involvement in a $1.6 billion fraud scheme. The 59-year-old founder of GPB Capital was convicted in May for defrauding thousands of individual investors and had reported to prison on 14 November before his release on 26 November.
Internationally, Trump confirmed speaking with Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro, though details of their discussion remain undisclosed. The administration is also closely monitoring elections in Honduras, where Trump has threatened to cut aid if his preferred candidate, Nasry "Tito" Asfura, fails to secure victory.
