Trump Proposes Permanent Migration Pause from Poorer Nations

President Trump's Strong Stance on Immigration

President Donald Trump has made it clear that he wants to "permanently pause migration" from poorer nations. He is promising to expel millions of immigrants from the United States by revoking their legal status. Trump is blaming immigrants for problems ranging from crime to housing shortages, which he attributes to "social dysfunction" in America. His rhetoric includes a demand for "REVERSE MIGRATION."

His most severe social media post against immigration since returning to the Oval Office in January came after two National Guard members were shot while patrolling the streets of the nation’s capital under his orders. One died, and the other is in critical condition.

Administration Officials Reexamine Legal Immigrants

Since the shooting not far from the White House, administration officials have pledged to reexamine millions of legal immigrants, building on a 10-month campaign to reduce the immigrant population. In a lengthy social media post late Thursday, the Republican president asserted that millions of people born outside the U.S. and now living in the country bore a large share of the blame for America’s societal ills.

Details of the Shooting Incident

Mayor of Bellingham, Washington, says there’s ‘no excuse for the heinous, violent attack.’ The shooting suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, was living with his family in Bellingham, authorities said. The mayor stated, “They don’t represent what makes our communities great.”

In an email to The Associated Press, Bellingham police Lt. Claudia Murphy did not address whether the department had any past encounters with Lakanwal. The chief said the department would assist the FBI if help is needed.

Background of the Suspect

Shooting suspect briefly delivered packages for Amazon Flex. Amazon Flex allows people to use their own cars to deliver packages to customers. Rahmanullah Lakanwal worked as an independent contractor for the company from the end of July to the end of August and hadn’t been active since, a company spokesperson told The Associated Press.

Charges against Lakanwal were upgraded to first-degree murder after one of the soldiers died, federal authorities said Friday. Lakanwal served in a CIA-backed Afghan army unit before immigrating to the U.S. in 2021. He lived in Bellingham, Washington, and drove across the country before Wednesday’s shooting, authorities said.

Neighbor's Account of the Suspect

One neighbor said the suspect 'disappeared' two weeks ago. Mohammad Sherzad, a neighbor of Lakanwal’s in Bellingham, Washington, told The Associated Press in a phone interview Friday that Lakanwal was polite, quiet, and spoke very little English. Sherzad said he attended the same mosque as Lakanwal and had heard from other members that Lakanwal was struggling to find work. Some of his children attended the same school as Lakanwal’s children, Sherzad said.

“He was so quiet and the kids were so polite, they were so playful. But we didn’t see anything bad about him. He was looking OK,” Sherzad said. Sherzad said Lakanwal “disappeared” about two weeks ago.

Information About the Victims

What to know about Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, the slain National Guard member. Beckstrom enlisted in 2023, the same year she graduated high school, and served with distinction as a military police officer with the 863rd Military Police Company, the West Virginia National Guard said in a statement. “She exemplified leadership, dedication, and professionalism,” the statement said, adding that Beckstrom “volunteered to serve as part of Operation D.C. Safe and Beautiful, helping to ensure the safety and security of our nation’s capital.” Trump called Beckstrom an “incredible person, outstanding in every single way.”

More National Guard troops on the way to DC. Soon after Wednesday’s shooting, Trump said he would send 500 more National Guard troops to Washington, D.C. It’s not clear where the additional troops would come from.

How the Attack Unfolded

Video reviewed by investigators showed Lakanwal “came around the corner” on Wednesday afternoon and immediately started firing at the troops, according to Jeffery Carroll, an executive assistant D.C. police chief. Troops ran over and held down the shooter, Carroll said, and he was taken into custody. Authorities believe he was the only gunman. Carroll said that it was not clear whether one of the Guard members or a law enforcement officer shot Lakanwal. The suspect’s wounds were not believed to be life-threatening, one of the officials said.

Who Are the Two Guard Members Who Were Shot?

Beckstrom, 20, and Wolfe, 24, were deployed with the West Virginia National Guard to the nation’s capital as part of Trump’s crime-fighting mission that involved taking over the local police department. There were nearly 2,200 Guard members from various states in D.C. for the mission. Both Beckstrom and Wolfe were on orders in Washington since August, according to the West Virginia National Guard.

Wolfe remains in ‘very critical condition,’ West Virginia governor says. Gov. Patrick Morrisey issued a proclamation Friday requesting that all West Virginians observe a statewide moment of silence or prayer at 2:15 p.m. to honor Wolfe and Beckstrom. He also ordered flags to be flown at half-staff in recognition of Beckstrom’s death.

Charges Against the Suspect

Suspect faces more charges, Pirro says. In an interview on Fox News, Pirro said there are “many charges to come” beyond the upgraded murder charge. She said her heart goes out to the family of Beckstrom, who volunteered to serve and “ended up being shot ambush-style on the cold streets of Washington, D.C., by an individual who will now be charged with murder in the first degree.” Pirro declined to discuss the suspect’s motive, saying officials have been working around the clock on that question. Investigators are continuing to execute warrants in the state of Washington and other parts of the country, she said. She said Wolfe remains in critical condition and that “we still have hope.”

Background of the Suspect

Who is the suspected shooter? Lakanwal, 29, had worked in a special CIA-backed Afghan Army unit before emigrating from Afghanistan, according to two sources who spoke to The Associated AP on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the situation, and #AfghanEvac, a group that helps resettle Afghans who assisted the U.S. during the two-decade war. He entered the U.S. in 2021 through Operation Allies Welcome, a Biden administration program that evacuated and resettled tens of thousands of Afghans after the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from the country, officials said. Lakanwal applied for asylum during the Biden administration, but his asylum was approved under the Trump administration, #AfghanEvac said in a statement.

Refugee Groups Concerned About Backlash

Refugee groups worry about backlash after shooting of National Guard soldiers in DC. People who work with refugees are worried that those who fled dangerous situations to start again in America will face backlash after authorities say an Afghan national shot two National Guard members this week, killing one of them. Many Afghans living in the U.S. are afraid to leave their houses, fearing they’ll be swept up by immigration officials or attacked with hate speech, said Shawn VanDiver, president of the San Diego-based group #AfghanEvac, a group that helps resettle Afghans who assisted the U.S. during the two-decade war. “They’re terrified. It’s insane,” VanDiver told The Associated Press Thursday. “People are acting xenophobic because of one deranged man. He doesn’t represent all Afghans. He represents himself.”