US Halts Asylum Decisions Following National Guard Shooting Near White House

The Trump administration has suspended all asylum decisions following a fatal shooting near the White House that resulted in the death of a National Guard member. The incident occurred on November 26, 2025, when Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, were shot while on duty near the Farragut West metro station in Washington, D.C. Beckstrom succumbed to her injuries the following day, while Wolfe remains in critical condition.

The suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national who previously collaborated with the CIA during the Afghanistan War, has been charged with first-degree murder and two counts of assault with intent to kill while armed. Lakanwal entered the United States in 2021 through Operation Allies Welcome, a program initiated to resettle Afghans after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. He was granted asylum earlier this year.

In response to the shooting, President Donald Trump labeled the incident a "terrorist attack" and criticized the previous administration for allowing Afghans who worked with U.S. forces to enter the country. He announced a pause on all asylum decisions and a suspension of visa issuances for individuals traveling on Afghan passports. Joseph Edlow, director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, stated that asylum decisions will be paused "until we can ensure that every alien is vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible."

The administration's actions have sparked debate, with critics arguing that the measures unfairly target immigrants and could undermine the contributions of Afghan nationals who supported U.S. efforts during the war. Investigations into the motive behind the shooting are ongoing.