President Donald Trump has reiterated his commitment to tighten immigration laws after the recent shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, D.C. In a video shared by the White House, Trump referred to the incident as an “act of hatred.” The alleged shooter, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who comes from Afghanistan, was among thousands of individuals who were evacuated to the U.S. following the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021, during President Biden’s administration.
Trump expressed his concerns about immigrants fleeing conflict zones, calling for a reassessment of all Afghan nationals who entered the U.S. since Biden took office. “This attack highlights a serious national security issue, one of the biggest threats we face,” he stated. “The prior administration allowed in millions of unknown foreigners from various countries, putting our security at high risk.”
He further emphasized the need to scrutinize every individual admitted from Afghanistan under Biden’s leadership, advocating for the removal of anyone deemed unfit to stay. “If they can’t appreciate or support our country, we don’t want them here,” Trump insisted.
Responding to the situation, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced that it would immediately halt all immigration applications from Afghans pending a review of security measures. In a social media post, the agency indicated an indefinite pause on these requests.
According to USCIS Director Joseph Edlow, Trump had instructed that a thorough reevaluation of Green Cards for all aliens from high-risk countries take place.
Interestingly, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem noted on social media that Lakanwal arrived in the U.S. under the “Operation Allies Welcome” program on September 8, 2021. There’s no clarity on whether this was part of the evacuation or a subsequent resettlement effort, though it’s confirmed that he had ties to the CIA and U.S. military while in Afghanistan.
While Trump quickly pointed fingers at Biden, it’s worth noting that the suspect applied for asylum in 2024 and received it under Trump’s second term in 2025.
Supporters of Afghan immigrants have expressed dismay at the administration’s stance. Richard Bennett, the U.N. special Rapporteur for human rights in Afghanistan, argued that accountability should rest solely on the perpetrator, cautioning against punishing the full Afghan community for one person’s actions.
Shawn VanDiver, who leads Afghan Evac, a group dedicated to aiding Afghan immigrants, condemned the violent acts but cautioned against casting blame on the entire Afghan community for one individual’s choices, emphasizing the rigorous vetting Afghan immigrants undergo when they enter the U.S.
In recent remarks, Trump also took aim at the Somali community in Minnesota. Following his announcement to eliminate temporary protected status for Somalis living in Minnesota, he asserted, “In Minnesota, many Somalis are taking advantage of our country and damaging that once-great state,” calling attention to the issues he perceives within that demographic.
“We will not tolerate this kind of lawlessness in our country from people who should not even be here!” Trump concluded.
In response to Trump’s immigration policies, critics including Democrats and immigration advocates have pointed out that he often broadens his attacks to communities entirely, stating he exaggerates security threats to distract from larger issues at hand. Minnesota’s Democratic Governor Tim Walz remarked on social media about this tendency after the announcement regarding TPS cutbacks for Somali nationals.
