US President Donald Trump has defended his decision to impose an indefinite nationwide pause on asylum processing, saying it is necessary following the killing of National Guard Specialist Sarah Beckstrom in a shooting near the White House. The accused, Afghan immigrant Rahmanullah Lakanwal, entered the US in 2021 and was granted asylum earlier this year.
Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump indicated the freeze may remain in place for an extended period, emphasising that the US “has enough problems” and suggesting asylum could be barred for certain nationalities “for a long time.” His remarks signal further tightening of immigration and vetting procedures since returning to office.
Trump also launched a fresh attack on the previous Biden administration, blaming what he called “unchecked and unvetted” admissions under Operation Allies Welcome for the current situation. On Truth Social, he accused former President Biden, former Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, and Vice President Kamala Harris of failing to protect the country.
The Department of Homeland Security echoed Trump’s criticism, calling Biden-era vetting practices “an act of national self-sabotage.” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the suspect “should never have been in this country,” arguing the Biden administration did not perform adequate background checks during the 2021 evacuations from Afghanistan.
Following Wednesday’s attack — which left Beckstrom dead and Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe critically injured — DHS has halted all immigration requests from Afghan nationals and ordered a full review of vetting protocols. Investigators now believe Lakanwal may have adopted extremist views after arriving in the United States, though authorities have not disclosed a confirmed motive for the shooting.
The asylum suspension is one of the most sweeping immigration restrictions introduced since Trump returned to the White House and marks a major escalation in the administration’s approach to migration and national security.
