The Afghan man accused of shooting two National Guard members near the White House—an attack that left one soldier dead—will now face first-degree murder charges, intensifying political debate after US President Donald Trump vowed to halt migration from what he called “Third World Countries.”
US Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro said on Friday that additional charges would be brought against the suspect, 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, whom authorities say ambushed the West Virginia National Guard members during a patrol on Wednesday. Although formal charges are still pending, Pirro confirmed that prosecutors intend to pursue upgraded counts, including first-degree murder.
Lakanwal arrived in the United States in 2021 through the Biden administration’s program to resettle Afghans who aided US forces. Officials say he was granted asylum earlier this year under the Trump administration.
President Trump described the attack as a “terrorist attack” during a Thanksgiving Day call with US service members. On Thursday, 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom died from her injuries, while her colleague, 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe, remains in critical condition. Both soldiers were deployed to Washington as part of Trump’s recent initiative to use National Guard personnel to support local police operations.
Following the holiday, fewer Guard members were seen patrolling the capital.
Trump used social media late Thursday to sharply escalate his immigration rhetoric, calling for a permanent halt to migration from countries he labelled “Third World.” He pledged to revoke what he referred to as “millions of Biden illegal admissions” and to remove individuals he claimed were not “net assets” to the country. Trump also said he would invalidate any documents signed by President Joe Biden using an autopen, though the practice has been used by multiple administrations—including his own—for routine authorizations.
The Department of Homeland Security declined to define which countries fall under the “Third World” label but referred to 19 states listed in a June travel ban. Homeland Security officials said Trump has ordered a review of asylum approvals and green card issuances tied to those countries, including Afghanistan.
Experts warn the president does not have the authority to permanently alter immigration law without Congress. Jorge Loweree of the American Immigration Council cautioned that the actions could trigger widespread disruption across the US immigration system, regardless of whether courts ultimately block the policies.
Authorities say Lakanwal, a former member of a CIA-supported unit in Afghanistan, travelled from Washington state to carry out the attack. Investigators allege he shot the two soldiers with a .357 Magnum revolver before being wounded himself in an exchange of gunfire. He lives with his wife and five children, and Trump said officials are reviewing “the whole situation” regarding the suspect’s family.
The violence has prompted an immediate reevaluation of immigration pathways for Afghans who assisted US forces during the war. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced plans to introduce regulations restricting certain tax credits for undocumented immigrants.
International organizations urged the US to uphold protections for asylum seekers. The United Nations said it expected Washington to honour its commitments under the Refugee Convention, while migration experts warned that sweeping freezes on Afghan cases could destabilize families and communities.
Jasmin Lilian Diab of the Lebanese American University said that using an isolated criminal case to justify broad restrictions “is inconsistent with evidence showing no link between refugee arrivals and increased crime.”
