Washington DC: In a swift backlash to a shocking shooting that claimed an American soldier’s life, the Trump administration has thrown down the gauntlet on immigration from Afghanistan, halting all visa issuances for holders of Afghan passports and freezing asylum decisions nationwide.
The move, announced mere days after the brazen attack near the White House, underscores a hardening stance on national security amid rising fears of unchecked entries.
The nightmare unfolded on Wednesday, when Afghan national Rehmanullah Lakhanwal allegedly unleashed gunfire on two National Guard personnel just blocks from the presidential residence. The tragedy claimed the life of 20-year-old Army Specialist Sara Beckstrom, while 24-year-old U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolf remains critically ill. Authorities swiftly nabbed Lakhanwal, linking the assault to simmering grievances, but the fallout has rippled far beyond the cordoned-off streets.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in a fiery X post, defended the visa clampdown as a “priority for American safety” under President Trump’s iron-fisted leadership.
Echoing this sentiment, USCIS Director Joseph Aldo announced on the platform that the suspension of all asylum verdicts is in place until thorough background investigations have cleared each applicant. The sweeping edicts continue: green card petitions from 19 high-risk nations, including Afghanistan, now face increased scrutiny due to country-specific red flags. Non-citizens, meanwhile, lose access to federal perks and subsidies, as Trump vows a “permanent curb” on migrants from “third-world” hotspots to reboot the creaking U.S. system.
Critics decry the blanket ban as knee-jerk xenophobia, but proponents hail it as overdue prudence. As Beckstrom’s family mourns and Wolf fights on, this policy pivot leaves thousands of Afghans in limbo — dreams of refuge dashed by one man’s rage. Will it fortify borders or fracture alliances? In Trump’s resurgent America, the answer may redefine global migration for years to come.