Trump administration says it is halting all asylum decisions in wake of National Guard shooting

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated that the suspect in the National Guard shooting was radicalized in the U.S., highlighting concerns about domestic extremism. The incident has raised significant alarm as it resulted in the critical injury of two National Guard members near the White House. Noem also indicated that the asylum process for migrants would resume once the backlog of applications is addressed.

In a recent interview, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem criticized the Biden administration for its handling of the Operation Allies Welcome program, which allowed Afghan nationals to resettle in the U.S. after the Taliban takeover in 2021. This criticism follows a shooting incident near the White House where two National Guard members were critically injured by Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national who entered the U.S. under this program.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff met with Ukrainian officials in Florida to finalize a peace deal following the resignation of President Zelenskyy's top negotiator. This meeting is part of ongoing diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict in Ukraine, which has seen significant violence and casualties recently.

On November 26, 2025, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national with ties to the CIA, allegedly shot two members of the West Virginia National Guard near the White House in Washington, D.C., critically injuring them. This incident has raised significant concerns regarding the safety of military personnel and the implications of employing individuals with past affiliations to intelligence agencies.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has significantly weakened its oversight system that addresses civil rights violations, particularly concerning immigration detention, raising concerns among former officials about potential human rights abuses under the Trump administration. This dismantling coincides with an increase in aggressive immigration enforcement operations across the country.

U.S. District Judge William Young, appointed by Reagan, ruled that the Trump administration's cancellation of research grants related to gender identity and diversity was illegal, characterizing the action as racial and LGBTQ discrimination. This decision not only reinstates the grants but also underscores the judiciary's role in holding the administration accountable for its policies.

An Afghan man, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, has been accused of a shooting incident near the White House that critically injured two members of the West Virginia National Guard. This attack, which occurred on November 26, 2025, has raised significant concerns about the mental health and integration of Afghan nationals in the U.S., particularly those who were evacuated during the 2021 airlift.

President Trump has invoked Section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which grants the president authority to suspend the entry of aliens into the United States. This announcement follows a shooting incident in Washington, D.C., that critically injured two members of the National Guard, prompting a crackdown on immigration policies.