The United States government has announced a major review of its immigration policies targeting 19 specific nations, following a deadly shooting in Washington DC that left one National Guard member dead and another critically injured.
Trump Orders Full-Scale Immigration Review
This decisive action comes after Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national, was identified as the primary suspect in Wednesday's ambush-style attack. Joseph Edlow, director of US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), revealed he is acting on direct orders from President Trump to implement what he described as a "full scale, rigorous re-examination of every Green Card for every alien from every country of concern."
The White House confirmed that immigration from Afghanistan has been suspended indefinitely in response to the incident. When questioned about which other countries would face scrutiny, USCIS officials referenced a presidential proclamation from June that initially sought to restrict arrivals from numerous nations.
Countries Facing Immigration Scrutiny
The comprehensive review will affect green cards issued to citizens from 19 countries previously identified as concerning. The original proclamation aimed to fully restrict arrivals from Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.
Additionally, the policy partially restricted arrivals from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela. The new review extends this scrutiny to existing green card holders from these nations.
Details of the Washington DC Attack
The suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, reportedly entered the United States through Operation Allies Welcome, a programme established by former President Joe Biden to assist Afghans who had supported American troops during the conflict in Afghanistan. According to NBC News, Lakanwal was granted asylum in April 2025.
Attorney General Pam Bondi described the suspect as "a lone gunman" who "opened fire without provocation, ambush style." The attack claimed the life of 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom, while 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe remains in critical condition following the shooting.
Investigators believe Lakanwal drove thousands of miles from his home in Washington state, where he lives with his wife and five children, to carry out the attack in the nation's capital. He had previously worked with a CIA-backed unit in Afghanistan before relocating to America.
Political Fallout and Policy Changes
The incident has sparked significant political controversy, with President Trump describing the suspect as a "savage monster" and criticising the previous administration's immigration policies. During remarks following the attack, Trump stated: "The protection of this country and of the American people remains paramount, and the American people will not bear the cost of the prior administration's reckless resettlement policies."
USCIS director Edlow echoed these sentiments in his social media announcement, explicitly linking the new green card review to what he characterised as the Biden administration's inadequate vetting procedures. The policy shift represents one of the most substantial changes to US immigration enforcement since President Trump took office.
This development marks a significant escalation in the ongoing debate about national security and immigration policy in the United States, particularly concerning individuals arriving from conflict zones and nations with significant security challenges.
