BREAKING: In a shocking announcement, President Donald Trump has declared an indefinite halt to asylum decisions following a tragic shooting that claimed the life of 20-year-old National Guard member Sarah Beckstrom. The incident occurred on November 26, 2023, near the White House when Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, allegedly shot two guardsmen, fatally wounding Beckstrom.
During a press conference on Sunday, Trump emphasized there would be “no time limit” for this asylum suspension, linking it to a list of 19 nations already under US travel bans. “We don’t want those people,” Trump stated, highlighting his administration’s tough stance on immigration amid growing security concerns.
The Department of Homeland Security has confirmed that this policy will impact countries including Afghanistan, Cuba, Haiti, Iran, and Myanmar, all facing recent travel restrictions. Trump has blamed the Biden administration for what he described as “lax vetting” of Lakanwal, who had been granted asylum in April 2025 during Trump’s presidency after serving with a CIA-supported unit against the Taliban.
In a heartfelt gesture, Trump announced he has invited Beckstrom’s grieving family to the White House. He recounted his conversation with her parents, saying, “When you’re ready, come to the White House. We’re going to honor Sarah.” Trump extended a similar invitation to the critically injured staff sergeant Andrew Wolfe, 24, who remains hospitalized following the shooting.
The tragic event has sparked vigils across Beckstrom and Wolfe’s home state of West Virginia, where communities are coming together to mourn the fallen guardsman and pray for Wolfe’s recovery.
This incident has reignited fierce debates surrounding the Biden-era Afghan resettlement process and the future of US asylum policies under Trump, who is pushing for a permanent pause on migration from all “Third World Countries” to allow the US immigration system to recover.
As the situation evolves, expect further updates on this developing story and its implications for national security and immigration policy.
