Trump Moves to Halt ‘Third World’ Immigration After National Guard Soldier Killed
Story: Written by Daniel November 28,2025
Former US President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he intends to suspend migration from what he described as “Third World countries”, following the fatal shooting of a National Guard soldier in Washington, D.C., by an Afghan national. The attack left 20-year-old Guardswoman Sarah Beckstrom dead and another soldier critically injured.
Trump’s post on social media also warned of reversing “millions” of immigration approvals granted under his predecessor, Joe Biden, and removing any migrants deemed “not a net asset” to the country.
The suspected shooter, 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who previously served alongside US troops in Afghanistan, allegedly carried out an “ambush-style” attack with a revolver on guards patrolling near the White House. Lakanwal, who had been resettled in the US as part of an Afghan evacuation program, is in serious condition, while the second injured soldier, 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe, remains “fighting for his life,” according to Trump.
Trump linked the incident to his broader domestic troop deployment strategy, emphasizing that the presence of National Guard units is meant to deter such attacks. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that an additional 500 troops will be sent to Washington, bringing the total deployment to 2,500.
Trump’s immigration chief, Joseph Edlow, said all green card applications from countries of concern, including Afghanistan, Cuba, Haiti, Iran, and Myanmar, will undergo a “full-scale review.” The US attorney for D.C., Jeanine Pirro, charged Lakanwal with assault with intent to kill; charges may be upgraded to first-degree murder.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe noted that Lakanwal was part of a CIA-supported “partner force” in Afghanistan and was evacuated under US programs. While some officials criticized the vetting process as lax, AfghanEvac, an aid group for resettled Afghans, stressed that migrants undergo “extensive security screening” and warned against stigmatizing entire communities based on one individual’s actions.
The shooting underscores ongoing tensions over immigration, domestic troop deployment, and the aftermath of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan. Trump has deployed National Guard personnel to multiple Democratic-led cities, a move that has sparked lawsuits and accusations of authoritarian overreach.
