On November 29, 2025, National Guard Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, succumbed to injuries sustained in a shooting incident near the White House. Another Guardsman, 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe, remains in critical condition. The shooter, identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, is an Afghan national who had overstayed his visa after being relocated to the United States during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.

The incident has garnered significant media attention, raising concerns about the implications for Afghan immigrants in the U.S. Following the shooting, the U.S. Department of State announced a suspension of all immigration applications for Afghan nationals until formal security vetting is completed. Lakanwal, who had previously worked with U.S. Special Forces in Afghanistan, has been charged with first-degree murder and other offenses related to the attack.

In response to the shooting, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) halted asylum processing for Afghan nationals, stating that it would not resume decisions until thorough vetting could be ensured. This policy change reflects ongoing tensions surrounding immigration policy and national security, particularly in light of recent violent incidents involving immigrants.

Lakanwal had entered the U.S. under Operation Allies Welcome, a program initiated by the Biden administration to assist Afghan evacuees following the chaotic withdrawal in September 2021. His asylum application was granted earlier this year, but his request for a green card remains pending. The FBI is investigating the incident, which is being treated as a potential act of international terrorism.

The shooting has reignited discussions about the effectiveness of the vetting process for refugees and the broader implications of U.S. military and immigration policies. Critics have pointed to the potential risks associated with allowing individuals from regions identified as terrorism hotspots to gain residency in the U.S. This situation underscores the complexities of balancing national security with humanitarian considerations in immigration policy.

Former President Donald Trump has characterized the incident as an act of terror and has called for a review of immigration policies concerning Afghan nationals. He has suggested that the actions of one individual could unjustly affect the broader Afghan community, raising fears of increased public sentiment against them. Advocates for Afghan immigrants have criticized the government's response, arguing that it unfairly targets an entire community based on the actions of one person.