In the wake of a truly shocking and tragic event just blocks from the White House, President Donald Trump has unveiled a massive and sweeping set of immigration proposals that could have huge global implications. The catalyst was a shooting that left a young National Guard soldier dead, and the response has been swift and severe, promising a fundamental shift in U.S. immigration policy. It's a story that unfolded rapidly, starting with an act of violence and escalating into a series of administration-wide directives.
Key Highlights
- ✓ President Trump announced a plan to "permanently pause migration from all Third World Countries."
- ✓ The announcement follows a D.C. shooting where National Guard soldier Sarah Beckstrom was killed.
- ✓ The suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, is an Afghan national who arrived in the U.S. in 2021.
- ✓ The administration is reexamining all green cards from 19 "countries of concern," including Afghanistan.
- ✓ Immigration processing for all Afghan nationals has been stopped indefinitely.
A Tragic Catalyst: The Washington D.C. Shooting
Everything changed just a day before Thanksgiving in central Washington, D.C. A shooter approached two National Guard troopers, Sarah Beckstrom and Andrew Wolfe, and opened fire at close range. The news that followed was heartbreaking. Beckstrom, a highly respected 20-year-old from West Virginia, did not survive her injuries. "She's just passed away. She's no longer with us," Trump announced, describing her as a "magnificent person." Her fellow guardsman, 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe, remains in critical condition and is receiving ongoing care.
Authorities quickly identified the suspect as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national who moved to the U.S. in 2021 after the American withdrawal from Afghanistan. While officials have stated they believe he acted alone and are still working to confirm a motive, the suspect's background immediately became the focal point of a fierce political firestorm and the justification for a dramatic policy overhaul.
Trump's "Permanent Pause" on Migration
In a fiery post on Truth Social, President Trump dropped a bombshell. He declared his intention to "permanently pause migration from all Third World Countries" in order to allow the U.S. immigration system to "fully recover." He argued that while the country has made technological progress, its immigration policy has "eroded those gains and living conditions for many." This wasn't just a minor tweak; it was a call for a complete stop and reversal.
The proposal is incredibly detailed and aggressive. Trump vowed to "terminate all of the millions of Biden illegal admissions," referencing those allegedly signed by "Sleepy Joe Biden's Autopen." He went further, stating he would remove anyone who isn't a "net asset to the United States" or is "incapable of loving our Country." The plan also includes ending all federal benefits and subsidies to noncitizens and even denaturalizing migrants who "undermine domestic tranquility."
He also promised to deport any foreign national deemed a "public charge, security risk, or non-compatible with Western Civilization." It's a vision that aims for a massive reduction in what he calls "illegal and disruptive populations." The term "Third World Countries" itself is broad and it's not entirely clear which nations would fall under this umbrella, but it's a phrase Trump has used repeatedly in his anti-immigration rhetoric.
The Administration Springs Into Action
These weren't just words on social media; government agencies began moving almost immediately. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced an indefinite stop to the processing of all immigration requests related to Afghan nationals, pending a review of security protocols. Tricia McLaughlin, a DHS Assistant Secretary, stated, "The protection and safety of our homeland and of the American people remains our singular focus and mission." DHS also confirmed it is reviewing all asylum cases that were approved under the previous Biden administration.
In another major move, Joe Edlow, the director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), announced that he was directed by the President to conduct a "full scale, rigorous reexamination of every Green Card for every alien from every country of concern." This is a significant step, as a green card grants lawful permanent resident status. The review is not a small one, targeting individuals from a specific list of 19 nations.
The 19 "Countries of Concern"
So, who is on this list? According to USCIS, the reexamination targets green cards issued to people from Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. The list also includes Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela. When vetting immigrants from these countries, USCIS will now consider "negative, country specific factors," such as a nation's ability to issue secure identity documents.
A Complicated Backstory and a Community's Plea
Here's where the story gets another layer of complexity. The suspect, Lakanwal, previously worked with the U.S. government, including the CIA, in Afghanistan. He came to the United States in 2021 as part of "Operation Allies Welcome," a program designed to help Afghans who had assisted the U.S. during the war. Interestingly, after applying for asylum in 2024, it was the Trump administration that granted it in April 2025.
This tragic event has sent shockwaves through the Afghan-American community. The Alliance of Afghan Communities in the United States released a statement condemning the shooting but also voicing deep concern. They argued that "a single individual's crime must not jeopardize or obstruct the legal cases of thousands of deserving Afghans who meet all U.S. legal requirements." They called for federal agencies to continue processing cases for Afghan immigrants without suspension or delay.
The Rationale Behind the Rhetoric
President Trump has been very vocal about his reasoning, framing the shooting as a symptom of a much larger problem. He blamed the Biden administration for bringing the alleged shooter into the country, calling the situation the "single greatest national security threat facing our nation." In a separate, angry Thanksgiving post, he railed against what he described as a foreign population of 53 million in the U.S., many of whom he claimed are from "failed nations, or from prisons, mental institutions, gangs, or drug cartels."
He argued that this "refugee burden" is the leading cause of social problems in America, citing "failed schools, high crime, urban decay, overcrowded hospitals, housing shortages, and large deficits." He even pointed to Minnesota as an example, claiming that "hundreds of thousands of refugees from Somalia are completely taking over the once great State." He put a price tag on it, too, stating, "A migrant earning $30,000 with a green card will get roughly $50,000 in yearly benefits for their family," paid for by American citizens.
Conclusion
The bottom line is that a devastating act of violence in Washington, D.C., has served as the catalyst for one of the most drastic immigration crackdowns proposed in recent memory. From a "permanent pause" on migration from dozens of countries to a full-scale review of existing green cards and asylum cases, the Trump administration's response has been immediate and far-reaching. The measures reflect a deep-seated belief that current immigration levels pose a threat to national security and social stability, setting the stage for a profound and controversial transformation of the U.S. immigration landscape.
