US halts all asylum decisions after National Guard shooting

President Donald Trump has invited the families of two National Guard members involved in a shooting incident near the White House to the White House, following the death of 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom and the critical injury of 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe. The shooting occurred on November 26, 2025, and has prompted widespread mourning and vigils in West Virginia.

Several lawmakers are demanding accountability from the Trump administration following reports of a second U.S. military strike on a vessel accused of drug trafficking off the coast of Venezuela. This incident, which occurred on September 2, has raised concerns about potential war crimes and the legality of such military actions.

On November 26, 2025, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national, allegedly carried out a shooting targeting two members of the West Virginia National Guard near the White House, resulting in critical injuries. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated that Lakanwal was radicalized in the U.S. after being granted asylum during the Trump administration, raising concerns about domestic extremism.

Northwestern University has agreed to pay $75 million to the Trump administration to settle investigations into allegations of antisemitism on its campus, thereby regaining access to federal funding that had been previously frozen. This agreement is part of a broader civil rights deal aimed at addressing the university's handling of these serious allegations.

On November 26, 2025, an Afghan refugee, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, allegedly shot and critically injured two members of the West Virginia National Guard near the White House in Washington, D.C. Homeland Security officials have attributed the vetting failures of the shooter to the Biden administration, suggesting he may have been radicalized after arriving in the U.S. in 2021.

An Afghan immigrant, identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, allegedly shot and critically injured two members of the West Virginia National Guard near the White House on November 26, 2025. Prior to this incident, advocates had raised concerns about Lakanwal's mental health, indicating he was 'not functional as a person' and that his mental health crisis had gone unaddressed for over a year.

Mourners gathered at a West Virginia high school to honor Sarah Beckstrom, a National Guard member who was fatally shot in a targeted attack in Washington, D.C. last week. Beckstrom was remembered as a caring individual who dedicated her life to helping others, reflecting the profound loss felt by her community.

Senator Mark Kelly faced scrutiny regarding his comments urging military personnel to disobey illegal orders from the Trump administration, raising questions about his stance on military obedience. This follows a Pentagon investigation into potential misconduct related to a video featuring Kelly and other lawmakers.