Homeland Security Secretary Calls for Expanded Travel Ban Following National Guard Shooting

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has recommended that President Trump enact a comprehensive travel ban following the recent shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, D.C. In a statement on social media, Noem suggested a "full travel ban on every damn country that's been flooding our nation with killers, leeches, and entitlement junkies."

The incident occurred near the White House, where two National Guard members were critically wounded in an ambush-style attack. The suspect, identified as 29-year-old Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal, had entered the United States in 2021 under a program designed to assist Afghans who had worked with U.S. forces. Lakanwal had previously worked with U.S. partner forces in Afghanistan, including the CIA-backed Kandahar Strike Force.

In response to the attack, President Trump has ordered a reexamination of all Afghan migrants admitted during the Biden administration and has deployed an additional 500 federal troops to Washington, D.C. The administration has also paused the processing of immigration applications for Afghan nationals and is conducting a full-scale review of green cards issued to immigrants from 19 countries, primarily in the Middle East and Africa.

The White House has referred questions regarding the proposed travel ban to the Department of Homeland Security. A DHS spokesperson indicated that the agency would be announcing the list of affected countries soon. The State Department, which typically sets entry requirements for immigrants and foreign travelers, has not yet responded to requests for comment.