Washington – A National Guard soldier has died and another wounded following a shooting in the nation’s capital, prompting President Donald Trump to vow a dramatic overhaul of U.S. immigration policy. The shooting, attributed to a 29-year-old Afghan national who arrived in the U.S. in 2021 following service alongside American forces, has ignited a fierce debate over national security and immigration protocols [[1]], [[2]], [[3]]. The incident occured as the administration faces ongoing scrutiny for its border security measures and deployment of the National Guard to domestic locations.
Washington – Following the death of a National Guard soldier and the wounding of another in a shooting attributed to an Afghan national, U.S. President Donald Trump has vowed to halt “immigration from all countries of the Third World.” The incident has ignited a new wave of debate over immigration policy and national security in the United States.
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President Trump announced the soldier, identified as Sarah Beckstrom, “just passed away” following the attack on Thursday. Another service member remains hospitalized and is fighting for their life. The shooting was carried out by a 29-year-old Afghan man who arrived in the United States in 2021 after having served alongside U.S. forces in Afghanistan.
In response to the incident, Trump announced Wednesday evening that he would be tightening his anti-immigration policies. Joseph Edlow, the director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, stated that a “full and rigorous review” would be conducted of every green card issued to individuals from countries deemed “of concern.”
This review will apply to immigrants originally from Afghanistan, as well as 18 other nations including Venezuela, Haiti, and Iran. A green card grants permanent residency in the United States.
Official data indicates that over 1.6 million foreign nationals with green cards – approximately 12% of all permanent residents – originate from one of these 19 countries. Afghanistan accounts for more than 116,000 of that total.
Going further, Trump stated on social media that he intends to “permanently suspend immigration from all countries of the Third World” in order to allow the American system to “fully recover.” The announcement signals a potentially dramatic shift in U.S. immigration policy.
“Western Civilization”
Trump also threatened to reconsider authorizations granted to “millions” of people by his predecessor, Joe Biden. He suggested that these approvals could be revoked.
The president pledged that his administration would “hunt down” anyone who is not an asset to the United States, end federal benefits and subsidies for non-citizens, denaturalize migrants who threaten national security, and expel any foreign national who is a public charge, a security risk, or incompatible with “Western civilization.”
The suspect in the shooting, identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, remains hospitalized as of Friday.
According to CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Lakanwal had previously worked with U.S. forces in Afghanistan. “We are fully investigating that aspect of his past,” stated FBI Director Kash Patel.
PHOTO NATHAN HOWARD, ARCHIVES REUTERS
FBI Director Kash Patel speaks at a press conference in Washington, November 27, 2025.
U.S. media reports indicate that Lakanwal was associated with Afghanistan’s “Zero Units,” special forces responsible for commando missions against the Taliban, Al-Qaeda, and the Islamic State (ISIS). These units reportedly operated outside the normal chain of command.
According to Human Rights Watch, the units were “largely recruited, trained, equipped, and overseen by the CIA.” A diplomat reportedly referred to them as “death squads.”
The New York Times cited a childhood friend of the suspect, who stated that Lakanwal had been deeply affected psychologically by his experiences within these units.
The suspect’s motive remains unknown as of Friday. However, he traveled across the country from Washington state to the nation’s capital.
There, he launched what authorities described as a “targeted” attack on military personnel, opening fire on two soldiers in their twenties with a Smith & Wesson revolver “without provocation, like an ambush.” He was subsequently subdued.
In recent months, Trump has faced criticism for deploying members of the National Guard to several Democratic-controlled cities, despite objections from local authorities, citing the need to combat crime and illegal immigration.
“Isolated Act”
Lakanwal arrived in the United States one month after the hurried withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan in August 2021, during the presidency of Joe Biden, as part of an operation to evacuate Afghans who had collaborated with the Americans.
Senior U.S. officials have stated that he did not undergo thorough vetting upon arrival and benefited from lax intake policies.
Immigration processing for Afghan nationals has been suspended.
AfghanEvac, an organization assisting Afghans with resettlement in the United States, has asserted that they are subject to “some of the most extensive” security checks.
“This individual’s violent and isolated act should not be used as an excuse to define or denigrate an entire community,” cautioned Shawn VanDiver, the organization’s president.
According to the State Department, more than 190,000 Afghans have arrived in the United States since the Taliban took power.
