The Trump administration has suspended all asylum decisions across the United States following a deadly shooting that claimed the life of a National Guard member and left another critically injured near the White House.
Administration Response to Tragedy
Joseph Edlow, director of US Citizenship and Immigration Services, announced the dramatic policy shift on Friday via social media platform X. He stated that asylum processing would be paused "until we can ensure that every alien is vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible."
The decision comes as federal investigators continue to probe the motive behind Wednesday's afternoon shooting that hospitalised Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and Staff Sgt Andrew Wolfe, 24, in critical condition. Donald Trump confirmed on Thursday evening that Beckstrom had succumbed to her injuries.
Charges Upgraded to Murder
US attorney Jeanine Pirro's office revealed that charges against the alleged shooter, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national, have been upgraded to include one count of first-degree murder and two counts of assault with intent to kill while armed.
Both soldiers were deployed with the West Virginia National Guard as part of President Trump's crime-fighting mission that federalised the DC police force. The president has increasingly deployed National Guard members to various cities to support his mass deportation initiatives, though these efforts have faced legal challenges.
In a Fox News interview, Pirro indicated that "many charges to come" beyond the upgraded murder charge were being considered. She expressed condolences to Beckstrom's family, noting the soldier had "volunteered to serve and ended up being shot ambush-style on the cold streets of Washington DC."
Background of the Suspect
Investigators have been working to establish Lakanwal's motive, executing warrants in Washington state where the suspect resided and other locations across the country. Lakanwal entered the United States in 2021 through Operation Allies Welcome, a Biden administration programme that resettled Afghans following the US withdrawal from Afghanistan.
According to advocacy group #AfghanEvac, Lakanwal applied for asylum during the Biden administration but received approval under the Trump administration. He had been living in Bellingham, Washington, approximately 80 miles north of Seattle, with his wife and five children.
Kristina Widman, Lakanwal's former landlord, confirmed his residence details as investigators continue their probe.
In his Thanksgiving address to troops on Thursday, President Trump described Lakanwal as having "went cuckoo. I mean, he went nuts." The president characterised the shooting as a "terrorist attack" and criticised the Biden administration's handling of Afghan refugees who had assisted US forces during the war.
Governor Patrick Morrisey of West Virginia confirmed that Wolfe remains in "very critical condition" and ordered state flags flown at half-staff in honour of Beckstrom's sacrifice.
The tragedy has intensified the ongoing debate about US immigration policy, with President Trump calling for reinvestigation of all Afghan refugees admitted under the Biden administration initiative that brought approximately 76,000 people to the country. Many of these individuals had worked as interpreters and translators for US forces.
Operation Allies Welcome has faced significant scrutiny from Trump and other critics who allege vetting deficiencies, while advocates maintain the programme involved extensive security checks and provided essential protection for individuals facing Taliban reprisals.
