Politics

US Halts Asylum Decisions After Fatal Shooting of National Guard Member

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Nov 29, 2025

THE BARE STORY

One National Guard member was killed and another critically injured in a shooting in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, November 26. The alleged gunman has been identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national who entered the U.S. in September 2021 under the "Operation Allies Welcome" program. According to Attorney General Pam Bondi, the Justice Department will seek the death penalty for Lakanwal, who has been charged with first-degree murder and assault with intent to kill. Homeland Security officials stated that Lakanwal was granted asylum in the spring of 2025.

In response to the incident, the Trump administration has directed U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to indefinitely halt all asylum decisions. USCIS Director Joseph Edlow confirmed the pause, stating it was to ensure maximum vetting and screening for public safety. The administration also announced a "rigorous reexamination" of green cards for nationals from 19 countries, a list that includes Afghanistan, Iran, Somalia, and Venezuela.

On Thanksgiving, President Trump made several statements regarding immigration and specific communities. In a social media post, he reportedly used a slur for Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and prejudiced language concerning Representative Ilhan Omar and Somali refugees. This followed an announcement that he would terminate temporary protected status for Somalis in Minnesota. Later, the president stated he would suspend immigration "from all Third World Countries," but the White House has not yet provided details on the policy's implementation.

The shooting and subsequent policy changes have drawn reactions from lawmakers. West Virginia Representative Riley Moore criticized the vetting of Afghan nationals under the prior Biden administration, attributing the soldier’s death to what he called a "failed policy." In contrast, Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz reportedly questioned if the current administration's deployment of troops in the capital played a role, suggesting a review of using the military for domestic law enforcement.

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• The administration is using the incident to justify targeting specific communities with prejudiced rhetoric. The article notes that President Trump reportedly used a slur and prejudiced language regarding Representative Ilhan Omar and Somali refugees. This coincided with a move to terminate temporary protected status for Somalis in Minnesota, suggesting a pattern of targeting specific immigrant groups in the wake of the shooting.

• The administration's own domestic policies may be a factor in the incident. Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz has reportedly questioned the role of deploying troops in the capital for domestic law enforcement purposes. She suggested that this policy should be reviewed, implying that the circumstances of the soldiers' deployment, not just immigration policy, may have contributed to the tragic outcome.

• The proposed immigration changes are overly broad and lack clear implementation. While President Trump announced a plan to suspend immigration "from all Third World Countries," the White House has not provided details on how this would be carried out. Critics can point to this lack of a clear plan, along with the indefinite and wide-ranging pause on all asylum decisions, as evidence of a reactive and sweeping policy overreach rather than a targeted solution.

How it may affect me

As a U.S. reader:

• Individuals seeking asylum will face an indefinite delay in their cases, as the government has halted all decisions to review its vetting procedures.

• Green card holders from 19 countries may have their legal status reexamined. Somalis in Minnesota will have their temporary protected status terminated.

• Future immigration from many countries may be suspended, but the practical impact is unclear as no specific policy details have been provided.

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