The Trump administration announced Friday it would suspend all asylum decisions following the shooting of two National Guard members near the White House. The move comes amid heightened security concerns and a renewed focus on immigration policies.
According to reports, the State Department has also halted visa issuance for all travelers with Afghan passports, following confirmation that the suspect in the shooting was of Afghan origin. Attorney General Janine Bureau stated that first-degree murder charges would be filed against the suspect.
Joseph Edlow, director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, announced the suspension of asylum decisions, stating, “Until we can ensure every foreign national is thoroughly vetted and their case is examined to the fullest extent possible, asylum decisions will be paused.”
President Trump reiterated his commitment to curbing immigration, stating his administration would work to permanently halt immigration from all Third World countries until the American system fully recovers. In a post on Truth Social, Trump vowed to end all federal benefits and subsidies for “non-citizens.” He added that immigrants who undermine domestic security would be stripped of their citizenship. “Any foreign national who poses a burden on the state, poses a threat to security, or is incompatible with Western civilization will be deported,” Trump stated.
Specialist Sarah Backstrom, 20, and Sergeant Andrew Wolf, 24, were hospitalized in critical condition after being shot near the White House on Wednesday afternoon. President Trump announced Backstrom’s death on Thursday evening.
The alleged shooter has been identified as Rahmanullah Lakhanwal, 29. U.S. media reports indicate that Lakhanwal was a member of the Afghan forces’ “Zero Units,” tasked with commando missions against the Taliban, al-Qaeda, and ISIS.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
