Afghan National Charged with First-Degree Murder in DC National Guard Shooting; Trump Escalates Immigration Stance

Afghan National Charged with First-Degree Murder in National Guard Shooting

A grave incident in Washington D.C. has led to an Afghan national, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, facing a first-degree murder charge after one of two National Guard members shot last week succumbed to her injuries. The tragic event has reignited intense political debates surrounding former President Donald Trump's use of the military domestically, immigration policies, and the enduring legacy of the conflict in Afghanistan.

Details of the Attack and Suspect

Twenty-nine-year-old Lakanwal, identified by U.S. media as a former member of a CIA-backed Afghan paramilitary group known as "Zero Units," is accused of ambushing a group of guardsmen patrolling near the White House on the eve of Thanksgiving. Washington D.C. Attorney Jeanine Pirro confirmed the upgraded charges from assault to first-degree murder, emphasizing the premeditated nature of the attack. Attorney General Pam Bondi had previously vowed to seek the death penalty against Lakanwal, whom she described as a "monster."

The deceased, 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom of the West Virginia National Guard, was deployed to the capital as part of Trump's crime crackdown initiative. The other soldier wounded, 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe, remains in critical condition, with authorities expressing hope for his recovery. Photographs of both victims, Andrew Wolfe and Sarah Beckstrom, alongside the suspect, were displayed during a press conference featuring FBI Director Kash Patel and and other officials on November 27, 2025.

Political Fallout and Immigration Policy

In the wake of the shooting, Donald Trump announced on Truth Social his intention to "permanently pause" migration from "all Third World Countries" and threatened to revoke millions of admissions granted during his predecessor Joe Biden's term. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security referenced a June order listing 19 countries, including Afghanistan, Cuba, and Haiti, facing travel restrictions. Joseph Edlow, Trump's director of US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), also ordered a "full-scale, rigorous reexamination" of Green Cards for individuals from "countries of concern," referring to the same list of 19 nations.

Over 1.6 million U.S. green card holders, representing about 12 percent of the permanent resident population, originate from these listed countries, with Afghanistan alone accounting for more than 116,000. Following the shooting, the Trump administration has ordered a total halt on immigration application processing from Afghanistan.

Suspect's Background and Vetting Controversy

CIA Director John Ratcliffe confirmed that Lakanwal was part of a CIA-backed force in Afghanistan, brought to the U.S. through a program designed to evacuate Afghans who assisted the agency after the 2021 Taliban takeover. Lakanwal had reportedly driven to D.C. from his family's residence in the western state of Washington.

Senior Trump appointees, including the heads of the FBI, CIA, and Homeland Security, contended that Lakanwal received unvetted access to the U.S. due to what they termed lax asylum policies following the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan under former President Biden. However, AfghanEvac, a group aiding Afghan resettlement, countered that such individuals undergo "some of the most extensive security vetting" of any migrants. They noted Lakanwal applied for asylum under Biden but received it under Trump. AfghanEvac also stressed that this "isolated and violent act should not be used as an excuse to define or diminish an entire community."