The United States President Donald Trump is considering implementing new widespread travel bans into the U.S.
This is coming after November 26 shootout by Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan immigrant near the White House.
The 29-year-old had allegedly shot two national guardsmen, Sarah Beckstrom and Andrew Wolfe during a high-visibility patrol by Farragut Square Metro station; Beckstrom died the next day, while Wolfe remains hospitalized but responsive.
Lakanwal, who entered the U.S. via Operation Allies Welcome after working with American forces in Afghanistan and receiving asylum in April 2025, faces first-degree murder and other charges, with prosecutors considering the death penalty.
The tragedy prompted the Trump administration to pause asylum processing and Special Immigrant Visas for review, part of White House press news read by Karoline Leavitt stated: “The Trump administration is now actively re-examining all of the Afghans imported into the country by Joe Biden. Any individual who threatens our national security or our citizenry will be subject to removal.”
Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Kristi Noem as well called for expanded travel restrictions.
In a statement on X after meeting with President Trump, she declared: “I am recommending a full travel ban on every damn country that’s been flooding our nation with killers, leeches, and entitlement junkies.
“Our forefathers built this nation on blood, sweat, and the unyielding love of freedom—not for foreign invaders to slaughter our heroes, suck dry our hard-earned tax dollars, or snatch the benefits owed to AMERICANS.
“WE DON’T WANT THEM. NOT ONE.” She emphasised
Noem further blamed the Biden administration for the tragic that happened last week: “the Biden Administration let in 100,000 Afghan nationals into our country during Operation Allies Welcome, many of them military-aged men, with zero front-end vetting.
“Under President Trump, DHS is overhauling the vetting process for aliens. We are requiring the country of origin to cross-reference biometric data and criminal history, expanding our vetting to include social media screening, and directing individuals to check-in every year.” She added.