Trump Intensifies Immigration Crackdown After National Guard Shooting

Palm Beach, Florida — President Donald Trump is intensifying his immigration policies following the shooting of two West Virginia National Guard soldiers, allegedly by an Afghan national.

Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, is suspected of opening fire on the soldiers who were deployed to Washington, D.C. as part of Trump’s public safety measures. The shooting left Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, dead and Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, wounded. The motive for the attack has not been fully determined.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem told ABC News that Lakanwal may have been “radicalized” since arriving in the U.S., where he was admitted under the Biden administration due to his previous support of American forces in Afghanistan. He was granted asylum earlier this year by the Trump administration.

Noem criticized the Biden administration for not adequately vetting Afghan refugees. In response to this incident, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a comprehensive review of all green cards for immigrants from high-risk nations. USCIS Director Joseph Edlow confirmed this rigorous reexamination process.

During a recent flight on Air Force One, Trump expressed that asylum decisions could be suspended for an extended period. “We don’t want those people. We have enough problems,” he stated. He also mentioned considering the denaturalization of Americans he views as criminals who may have been naturalized under previous administrations.

Noem indicated that Trump is implementing stricter vetting processes for asylum seekers, stating that applicants from unstable countries should not be allowed entry until their backgrounds are fully assessed.

Some experts believe Trump is using this tragic event as leverage to reinforce his longstanding anti-immigration agenda. “This situation plays very well into Trump’s narrative that immigration is the solution to America’s problems,” said political analyst, Dr. John Sagás from Colorado State University. “He often overreacts in these situations.”

Shawn VanDiver, president of AfghanEvac, which assists Afghan nationals, condemned the shooting but argued against blaming all Afghans for Lakanwal’s actions. “This is collective punishment dressed up as national security,” he remarked, criticizing the administration for using the tragedy as a pretext for extreme immigration policies.

Sagás countered the idea that Afghan refugees were poorly vetted, expressing concern over potentially reopening cases of those already granted green cards and citizenship. He warned this could jeopardize innocent immigrants for minor issues under the guise of national security.

Reports indicate that the asylum grant rate has declined, with only about 20% of applicants successful recently. Even for those granted asylum, the status remains temporary. Polling has shown that while many Americans do want to see violent criminals removed from the country, there is widespread opposition to deporting lawful green card holders and citizens due to the latest immigration crackdown.

Sagás noted that as Trump continues to prioritize immigration enforcement, economic issues like the cost of living are becoming increasingly important to voters, suggesting immigration might not remain a primary issue for his supporters in the future.