Washington, D.C. – December 1, 2025 – In a stark escalation of his hardline immigration agenda, President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that his administration plans to maintain an indefinite pause on asylum decisions "for a long time," with "no time limit" envisioned for lifting the measure. The declaration, made during a press briefing at the White House, comes in the wake of a deadly shooting on November 26, 2025, that claimed the life of 20-year-old National Guard specialist Sarah Beckstrom and left her fellow guardsman, Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, in critical condition. Trump's comments underscore a broader push to overhaul U.S. immigration vetting processes, which he has repeatedly blamed on the shortcomings of the prior Biden administration.
The shooting occurred around 2:15 p.m. ET near the White House in northwest Washington, D.C., where Beckstrom and Wolfe, both members of the West Virginia National Guard's 863rd Military Police Company, were on routine patrol along the National Mall. According to federal prosecutors, 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national residing in Washington state, approached the pair in what authorities described as a "targeted ambush." Armed with a .357 Smith & Wesson revolver reportedly stolen from a deceased Washington resident, Lakanwal fired multiple rounds, striking Beckstrom twice in the torso and Wolfe once in the shoulder. A third National Guard member nearby returned fire, wounding Lakanwal in the leg and abdomen. He was taken into custody at the scene and remains hospitalized in serious but stable condition at George Washington University Hospital.
Beckstrom, a Summersville, West Virginia native who enlisted in June 2023 shortly after graduating high school, succumbed to her injuries the following day, November 27. President Trump personally informed her family of her passing during a Thanksgiving Day call to service members from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, describing her as a "highly respected, young, magnificent person" who was "outstanding in every way." Wolfe, 24, underwent emergency surgery and is listed in critical but improving condition, with doctors reporting he may face a long recovery involving physical therapy for nerve damage. West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey, a Republican, hailed Beckstrom's "courage, extraordinary resolve, and unwavering sense of duty" in a statewide address, ordering flags at half-staff across the state.
Lakanwal faces upgraded charges of first-degree murder, attempted murder, and firearms offenses, announced by U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro on November 28. The FBI, led by Director Kash Patel, is investigating the incident as a potential act of domestic terrorism, though no formal motive has been established. Authorities believe Lakanwal drove approximately 2,800 miles from his home in Spokane, Washington, over several days, stopping at motels along Interstate 90. Searches of his residence yielded multiple electronic devices, including cellphones and laptops, which agents are analyzing for radicalization indicators or communications with overseas contacts. A relative of Lakanwal's told reporters that the family is "devastated and baffled," insisting he showed no signs of extremism and had expressed gratitude for his new life in America.
Lakanwal's background has fueled the political firestorm. Born in Kandahar, Afghanistan, he served from 2018 to 2021 with a CIA-backed "Zero Unit," an elite paramilitary squad of Afghan locals trained for night raids and counter-Taliban operations alongside U.S. Special Forces. Following the chaotic U.S. withdrawal in August 2021, Lakanwal was evacuated under Operation Allies Welcome, a Biden-era program that resettled over 70,000 Afghans who aided American efforts and faced Taliban reprisals. He arrived in the U.S. on September 8, 2021, initially settling in Virginia before relocating to Washington state, where he worked odd jobs in construction and pursued English classes at a community college. Despite applying for asylum in 2024 under the Biden administration, his approval came in April 2025—during Trump's second term—after extensive vetting, including biometric screenings and interviews confirming his non-involvement in insurgent activities.
Trump has seized on Lakanwal's case to lambast what he calls "lax vetting" from the Biden years, claiming during a November 27 social media post that the airlift allowed "thousands of unvetted radicals" into the country, contributing to "social dysfunction." In Sunday's remarks, he reiterated: "We don’t want those people. You know why we don’t want them? Because many have been no good, and they shouldn’t be in our country."
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), under Secretary Kristi Noem, implemented the asylum freeze immediately after the shooting, linking it to a June 2025 travel ban affecting nationals from 19 "high-risk" countries: Afghanistan, Burundi, Cuba, Haiti, Iran, Laos, Myanmar, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, Venezuela, and others primarily in Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean. USCIS Director Joseph Edlow confirmed the halt applies to all pending asylum claims from these nations, pausing approvals, denials, and closures until "every alien is vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible." This marks the first concrete action toward Trump's promised "reverse migration," which could impact tens of thousands of applicants and face swift legal challenges from advocacy groups.
Immigration experts warn of broader repercussions. The pause disrupts a backlog of over 1.2 million asylum cases nationwide, exacerbating delays for legitimate refugees fleeing persecution. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) issued a statement on November 29 urging the U.S. to uphold international obligations under the 1951 Refugee Convention, noting that blanket restrictions could endanger lives in conflict zones. Democratic lawmakers, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, condemned the move as "xenophobic fearmongering," arguing it punishes vulnerable populations for the actions of one individual. "This isn't security; it's scapegoating," Schumer said in a floor speech.
On the Republican side, the policy has drawn praise. House Speaker Mike Johnson called it a "necessary reset" during a Fox News appearance, tying it to Trump's first-term travel bans that targeted Muslim-majority nations. Supporters point to data showing that immigrants from high-risk countries commit crimes at rates above the national average, though critics counter that overall immigrant crime rates are lower than native-born Americans.
The tragedy has also spotlighted struggles within the Afghan diaspora. Veterans of CIA partner forces like Lakanwal's Zero Unit have reported delays in benefits, employment barriers, and mental health challenges from war trauma, with some facing deportation threats despite their service. A spokesperson for a resettlement nonprofit noted that Lakanwal had sought therapy for PTSD but was denied coverage under state Medicaid restrictions for recent arrivals.
Public response has been polarized. Vigils for Beckstrom drew thousands in West Virginia, blending grief with calls for stricter borders, while counter-protests in cities like New York and Los Angeles decried the freeze as discriminatory. On social media, hashtags like #JusticeForSarah and #RefugeesWelcome trended, amplifying debates over national security versus humanitarian aid. Recent polling shows a majority of Americans support temporary asylum restrictions following the incident, though support softens when framed around international law.
As investigations continue, Trump's administration has broadened its review to include all Biden-era asylum approvals, potentially affecting green cards and work permits. Legal experts anticipate lawsuits from civil rights organizations, citing precedents from Trump’s first term. For now, the pause hangs over families in limbo, from Kabul safehouses to U.S. detention centers, as the nation grapples with the intersection of grief, policy, and peril.
In a poignant gesture, Trump invited Beckstrom's family to the White House on Monday for a private memorial, promising to honor her legacy through "unwavering protection of our heroes." Whether this freeze becomes a permanent fixture or a fleeting response remains unclear, but it signals a contentious chapter ahead in America's immigration saga.
