In the wake of a fatal shooting of a National Guard soldier, President Donald Trump has vowed to freeze immigration from what he termed “Third World Countries” and outlined a sweeping new immigration policy agenda.
The announcement, made via social media on Thursday, came a day after a shooting in the nation’s capital that left 20-year-old National Guard soldier Sarah Beckmrom dead and 24-year-old soldier Andrew Wolf in critical condition. The incident occurred just blocks from the White House.
Authorities have arrested and charged 29-year-old Ramanola Lacenwal in connection with the attack. He faces charges of assault with intent to kill and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. According to officials, Lacenwal is an Afghan national who entered the United States under “Operation Allies Welcome,” the resettlement program established following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. He had been residing in Bellingham, Washington, with his wife and children.
A spokesperson for the Trump administration provided further details, stating that Lacenwal had worked with CIA-backed troops during the war in Afghanistan and was granted asylum earlier this year.
“As the judge said, this individual is in this country for one reason and one reason alone: because of the disastrous withdrawal from the Biden administration and the failure to vet in any way, shape, or form, this individual and countless others,” the spokesperson said. “This administration has taken the rightful step to stop any further allowance of people with this similar background into the country.”
While the motives for the shooting are still officially under investigation, the suspect’s background prompted the immediate political response from Trump.
In his social media post, the former president did not specify which nations would be targeted by his proposed immigration freeze or clarify his definition of “Third World Countries.” Beyond the freeze, Trump also pledged to end federal benefits for non-citizens and to initiate the removal of anyone he described as not being a “net asset to the United States.”
The deadly shooting has abruptly refocused national attention on U.S. immigration and vetting procedures, setting the stage for a renewed political debate over the nation’s asylum and resettlement policies.
