Donald Trump has called for an immediate re-examination of every Afghan immigrant who entered the US during Joe Biden's presidency, following a deadly shooting that left two national guard members critically injured in Washington D.C. The suspect behind the attack, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, is from Afghanistan and was granted asylum earlier this year under a policy established after the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.
In a statement, Trump described the incident as an "act of terror" and emphasized that Americans should be concerned about the vetting process for migrants from countries like Afghanistan. The President suggested that lax vetting policies were to blame for allowing Lakanwal into the country.
The US Citizenship and Immigration Services has since put an indefinite hold on processing immigration requests for Afghan nationals, in response to Trump's call to re-examine refugee and asylum status granted under previous administrations. Trump also vowed to ensure that the suspect "who perpetrated this atrocity pays the steepest possible price".
Trump's comments have been criticized by some as a form of xenophobia, while others see it as a necessary measure in response to a perceived security threat. The incident has raised concerns about the vetting process for migrants and the need for stricter immigration policies.
The shooting occurred near the Farragut West metro station, close to the White House, with authorities confirming that two national guard members were shot and are currently receiving medical treatment. The suspect is in custody and is believed to be recovering from non-life-threatening injuries.
Trump's calls for increased security measures have been met with skepticism by some, who point out that previous deployments of the National Guard in response to domestic violence incidents were not authorized under federal law. A court ruling earlier this month found Trump's national guard deployment to Washington D.C. to be "likely unlawful", but the order is set to take effect next month after an appeal.
In a statement, Trump described the incident as an "act of terror" and emphasized that Americans should be concerned about the vetting process for migrants from countries like Afghanistan. The President suggested that lax vetting policies were to blame for allowing Lakanwal into the country.
The US Citizenship and Immigration Services has since put an indefinite hold on processing immigration requests for Afghan nationals, in response to Trump's call to re-examine refugee and asylum status granted under previous administrations. Trump also vowed to ensure that the suspect "who perpetrated this atrocity pays the steepest possible price".
Trump's comments have been criticized by some as a form of xenophobia, while others see it as a necessary measure in response to a perceived security threat. The incident has raised concerns about the vetting process for migrants and the need for stricter immigration policies.
The shooting occurred near the Farragut West metro station, close to the White House, with authorities confirming that two national guard members were shot and are currently receiving medical treatment. The suspect is in custody and is believed to be recovering from non-life-threatening injuries.
Trump's calls for increased security measures have been met with skepticism by some, who point out that previous deployments of the National Guard in response to domestic violence incidents were not authorized under federal law. A court ruling earlier this month found Trump's national guard deployment to Washington D.C. to be "likely unlawful", but the order is set to take effect next month after an appeal.