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The Trump administration announced on Friday that all asylum decisions are being temporarily suspended following the National Guard shooting that took place near the White House earlier this week.
USCIS Director Joseph Edlow stated on X that the pause will remain in effect until authorities are confident that every applicant is subjected to the highest possible level of security screening.
Two members of the West Virginia National Guard, Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, were critically injured in Wednesday’s attack. Trump confirmed on Thursday evening that Beckstrom had succumbed to her injuries.
Federal prosecutors upgraded the charges against the suspect, 29-year-old Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who previously worked with the CIA during the Afghanistan War. He now faces a first-degree murder charge along with two counts of assault with intent to kill.
In addition to halting asylum reviews, the administration has also suspended issuing visas to individuals traveling on Afghan passports.
Beckstrom and Wolfe had been deployed in Washington as part of Trump’s law-and-order operation that placed the D.C. police force under federal control. Trump has repeatedly attempted to deploy Guard units to other cities as part of his mass-deportation strategy, though some efforts have been blocked in court.
The president labeled the shooting a “terrorist attack,” criticizing the Biden administration for allowing Afghans who assisted US forces to enter the country. Trump has reiterated that he intends to sharply restrict migration from economically distressed nations and remove millions of undocumented immigrants.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said on Fox News that investigators expect additional charges and expressed condolences to Beckstrom’s family, describing the attack as an ambush on a young soldier who had volunteered to serve her country.
Authorities are examining Lakanwal’s background, executing search warrants in Washington state and other locations as they try to determine a motive.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth met with National Guard troops in Washington on Friday and led them in prayer for both soldiers. He said he and his wife visited Wolfe on Thursday night to support him and pray for his recovery. Wolfe remains in very critical condition, according to West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey, who ordered state flags lowered in honor of Beckstrom.
Lakanwal lived in Bellingham, Washington, with his wife and five children, according to his former landlord. Neighbors described him as quiet and polite and said he struggled to find work. He briefly held a contract delivery job with Amazon Flex between July and August.
He arrived in the United States in 2021 through Operation Allies Welcome, the Biden-era resettlement program for Afghans following the US withdrawal. He later applied for asylum, which was approved under the Trump administration.
In his Thanksgiving address, Trump said the suspect had “lost control,” and later called for all Afghan refugees who arrived under the 2021 program to be re-investigated.
Beckstrom enlisted in 2023 shortly after finishing high school and was serving as a military police officer with the 863rd Military Police Company. The West Virginia National Guard stated that she was known for her professionalism, commitment, and strong leadership qualities. She volunteered to take part in Operation D.C. Safe and Beautiful, helping to protect the nation’s capital.
Trump described her as an exceptional young woman who excelled in every way.
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