US reviews immigrant visas from 19 countries after National Guard soldier dies in Washington shooting by Afghan national who served with US troops.
WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump announced the death of a National Guard soldier shot near the White House in what officials described as an ambush-style attack.
Trump expressed the nation’s anguish over the terrorist attack during a Thanksgiving video call with US troops.
He identified the deceased soldier as 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom from the West Virginia National Guard.
The president called the suspect a savage monster and linked the shooting to his decision to deploy National Guard troops to Washington.
US Citizenship and Immigration Services director Joseph Edlow ordered a full scale reexamination of every Green Card for aliens from countries of concern.
His agency identified 19 countries facing US travel restrictions, including Afghanistan, Cuba, Haiti, Iran and Myanmar.
The Trump administration had earlier halted processing of immigration applications from Afghanistan.
The second injured soldier, 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe, was fighting for his life according to Trump.
US attorney Jeanine Pirro said the suspected assailant Rahmanullah Lakanwal drove from Washington state to the capital.
She described the attack as brazen and targeted, with the gunman using a .357 Smith and Wesson revolver.
Lakanwal faces three counts of assault with intent to kill, which could be upgraded to first-degree murder.
CIA director John Ratcliffe revealed the suspect had served with CIA-backed forces in Afghanistan.
He was brought to the United States through a program evacuating Afghans who worked with the agency.
Senior Trump appointees claimed Lakanwal received unvetted access due to lax asylum policies.
AfghanEvac president Shawn VanDiver said Afghans undergo extensive security vetting before resettlement.
The group noted Lakanwal received asylum in April 2025 under the Trump administration.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced 500 additional troops would deploy to Washington.
Trump has deployed troops to several Democrat-run cities including Los Angeles and Memphis.
The military deployments have prompted multiple lawsuits alleging authoritarian overreach. – AFP
