Trump freezes Afghan visas after DC shooting — as he quietly eyes land strikes in Venezuela
The Trump administration is intensifying its immigration policies following a tragic shooting incident near the White House that resulted in the death of a National Guard member and left another critically injured. The suspect, identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national, entered the U.S. legally in 2021 under the Operation Allies Welcome program, which was designed to facilitate the resettlement of Afghan refugees. In response to this incident, the Department of State has halted all U.S. visas for individuals traveling on Afghan passports, a move underscoring the administration’s commitment to reevaluating immigration protocols in light of security concerns. U.S. Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, who was only 20 years old, succumbed to her injuries from the shooting, while U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe remains in critical condition.
In the wake of the shooting, former President Trump took to social media to propose a permanent pause on migration from “all Third World Countries.” This statement aligns with the administration’s broader strategy to enhance scrutiny of immigration applications, particularly from nations deemed as security risks. Joseph Edlow, the head of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, announced a comprehensive review of Green Card applications from individuals hailing from these countries. While the White House has not specified which nations will be affected, the call for a rigorous reassessment reflects a significant shift in immigration policy, one that is likely to face scrutiny and debate among lawmakers and the public alike.
Moreover, the Trump administration is not only focusing on immigration but is also ramping up operations against drug trafficking in the Caribbean. Since September, over 20 strikes have been conducted against vessels suspected of smuggling drugs into the U.S., and Trump has indicated a forthcoming expansion of land operations to intercept drug traffickers. He stated, “You probably noticed that now people aren’t wanting to be delivering by sea, and we’ll be starting to stop them by land also,” hinting at a more aggressive stance in combating drug-related crime. While the specifics of these land operations remain unclear, Trump has previously indicated a willingness to consider deploying U.S. troops in Venezuela, particularly in discussions with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. This multifaceted approach to immigration and drug trafficking underscores the administration’s focus on national security in the face of recent violent incidents.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1VaLEoxGAw
The Trump administration is taking an even firmer stance on immigration in the wake of a fatal shooting near the
White House
Wednesday, which took the life of one National Guard member and injured another.
Additionally, the White House signaled it may ramp up its operations targeting alleged drug smugglers in the Caribbean, following months of strikes against vessels accused of trafficking drugs into the U.S.
Here’s what happened this week.
The Trump administration is moving to impose more limitations on migrants attempting to enter the U.S., after an Afghan national was identified as the suspect in Wednesday’s deadly shooting.
Law enforcement officials identified the shooting suspect as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, who entered the U.S. legally in 2021 under the Biden administration’s
Operation Allies Welcome program,
which aimed to facilitate resettling Afghan refugees in the U.S.
The Department of State has paused all U.S. visas for individuals traveling on
Afghan passports,
the State Department and Secretary of State Marco Rubio
posted to X Friday.
VANCE’S PAST WARNINGS REIGNITE AFTER AFGHAN NATIONAL NAMED AS SUSPECT IN DC GUARD SHOOTING
U.S. Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, 20, died Thursday due to injuries stemming from Wednesday’s shooting. U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe remains in critical condition as of Friday, per U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro.
As a result of the shooting, Trump said in a social media post Thursday that he would permanently pause migration from “all Third World Countries.”
LIBERAL COMMENTATORS BLAME TRUMP FOR NATIONAL GUARD SHOOTING
Likewise, the head of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Joseph Edlow, said Thursday that in accordance with orders from Trump, he has “directed a full scale, rigorous reexamination of every Green Card for every alien from every country of concern.”
The White House did not provide additional information regarding which countries would be impacted, and referred Fox News Digital to Trump’s social media post.
Trump also signaled that his administration would start
conducting land operations
as it ramps up its operations targeting alleged
drug traffickers in the Caribbean
.
LAW ENFORCEMENT RESPONDING AFTER 2 NATIONAL GUARD MEMBERS SHOT NEAR WHITE HOUSE
Since September, the Trump administration has conducted more than 20 strikes against alleged drug boats in Latin American waters, and has beefed up its
military presence in the Caribbean
as part of Trump’s effort to crack down on the influx of drugs into the U.S.
“You probably noticed that now people aren’t wanting to be delivering by sea, and we’ll be starting to stop them by land also,” Trump said Thursday. “The land is easier, but that’s going to start very soon.”
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital regarding whether the White House was considering land strikes or deploying U.S. troops within Venezuela. However, Trump has previously refused to rule out dispatching U.S. ground troops into Venezuela.
The New York Times reported Friday that Trump spoke with Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro in the past week.
Alexandra Koch contributed to this report.
