On November 26, two National Guard soldiers were shot in downtown Washington, D.C. Police responded within minutes, and the area was quickly shut down as bystanders fled for safety. Metropolitan Police Assistant Chief Jeff Carroll said the suspect “came around the corner and immediately started firing,” adding that the soldiers had been “ambushed.” 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe survived but sustained serious head trauma. Trump announced the death of 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom on November 27. The suspect, identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, known as a “criminal alien from Afghanistan,” came to the U.S. in 2021 and is now facing a charge of murder in the first degree. Prior to the attack, the suspect drove across the country from Bellingham, WA, to D.C. with his wife and children. After shooting the first guard, he proceeded to take her weapon and use it to open fire and continue shooting, striking the second guard member. Finally, a third guard member stabbed the suspect with a knife to end the ongoing attack. Within days, federal officials announced new policy measures tied to the suspect’s country of origin.
The United States traditionally grants asylum to individuals fleeing war, persecution, or instability, a process that can take years of interviews, paperwork, and security screenings. As a result of this tragedy, all asylum decisions and issuing of visas to people from Afghanistan have been paused, making it more challenging for some foreigners to enter and stay in the country. Asylum is a form of protection for anyone at risk of being harmed in their current home country who must flee to another country for safety. Joseph Edlow, director of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), claimed his agency would conduct a “full-scale, rigorous reexamination” of every green card for people he said come from “every country of concern.” The press released that it would be more challenging for 19 countries, including Afghanistan, to apply for immigration benefits and green cards. For many, this means longer wait times, uncertainty about work authorization, and delays in reuniting with family members overseas. Unfortunately, this is now affecting Afghans who already live in the U.S. and who are currently in the process of applying for green cards, work permits, or are in the transition to bring family members over to the U.S.
The incident occurred amid ongoing debates over border security and refugee vetting procedures. Prior to the shooting, the Trump administration was already in the process of sweeping over thousands of immigrants who entered the U.S. during the Biden administration. Overall, the incident served as a catalyst that expanded the ongoing effects of immigration pathways. Following the attack, the incident sparked widespread outrage regarding the fairness of restricting benefits based on the actions of a single individual following the attack. Advocacy groups argue that the new limitations risk harming innocent families who fled violence, while supporters claim the measures are necessary for public safety.
