United States President Donald Trump said on Sunday that his administration plans to maintain a pause on asylum decisions for an indefinite period, following the fatal shooting of a National Guard member near the White House.
Diaspora Digital Media reported that the incident occurred on November 26, when 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom was killed and another guard critically injured.
The alleged shooter, 29-year-old Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal, has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder.
Trump stated that there is “no time limit” for the asylum pause. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed that the measure targets nationals from 19 countries already under US travel restrictions, including Afghanistan, Cuba, Haiti, Iran, and Myanmar.
“We don’t want those people,” Trump said. “Many have been no good, and they shouldn’t be in our country.”
Lakanwal had previously been part of a CIA-backed “partner force” fighting the Taliban and was resettled in the US after the American withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.
He was granted asylum in April 2025, during Trump’s current administration, though officials blamed “lax vetting” by former President Joe Biden’s government for his admission.
Following the attack, Trump wrote that he intends to “permanently pause migration from all Third World countries to allow the US system to fully recover.”
The DHS has emphasized that the pause is linked to security concerns and the 19-country travel restriction list.
Officials argue that the measure is essential to prevent individuals who may pose a threat from entering the United States.
The White House confirmed that the administration is reviewing the vetting process for all asylum applicants and resettlement programs to ensure that similar incidents are prevented.