Featured Image Credit: Getty Images/Pete Marovich
Topics: Donald Trump, Immigration, US News, Washington, Politics
Niamh Shackleton
Topics: Donald Trump, Immigration, US News, Washington, Politics
Donald Trump has made a bold move following a shooting near the White House that sent the capitol into lockdown.
Two US National Guard members deployed in Washington DC were shot yesterday (November 26) in an act of violence described by Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser as a 'targeted shooting'.
The two guardsmen, who are part of West Virginia National Guard, were rushed to hospital and are said to be in a critical condition.
Reacting to the news, Trump said on Truth Social: "The animal that shot the two National Guardsmen, with both being critically wounded, and now in two separate hospitals, is also severely wounded, but regardless, will pay a very steep price. God bless our Great National Guard, and all of our Military and Law Enforcement.
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"These are truly Great People. I, as President of the United States, and everyone associated with the Office of the Presidency, am with you!"
The Trump administration quickly ordered 500 more National Guard members to Washington. Defence secretary Pete Hegseth said Trump asked him to send the troops.
The suspect has since been identified as 29-year-old Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal. He's believed to have been in the US since 2021.
Lakanwal was also shot in yesterday's incident, which is reportedly being investigated as a possible act of terrorism, says NBC News. He's said to have been fired at four times and was taken to hospital for treatment.
In light of the shooter being from Afghanistan, US Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that it has halted requests from Afghan nationals.
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"Effective immediately, processing of all immigration requests relating to Afghan nationals is stopped indefinitely pending further review of security and vetting protocols," the agency shared on Twitter, adding: "The protection and safety of our homeland and of the American people remains our singular focus and mission."
The decision comes after the POTUS said that lax migration policies are 'the single greatest national security threat facing our nation' in response to yesterday's attack.
"No country can tolerate such a risk to our very survival," he added, as per NBC Washington.
Trump also described Afghanistan as 'a hellhole on earth', and he said his administration would review everyone who entered from the country under President Joe Biden, a measure his administration had already been planning before the incident.