Trump Admin Expands Immigration Crackdown After Shooting

The Trump administration is considering expanding its travel ban to around 30 countries following the shooting of two National Guard soldiers in Washington, D.C. The current travel ban restricts or bars entry from 19 countries, mostly in Asia and Africa. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has recommended expanding the ban to between 30 and 32 countries. The administration has cited the Washington attack, allegedly carried out by an Afghan man who entered the U.S. in 2021 and was granted asylum in 2025, as a reason to further expand its immigration crackdown.

The article examines the immigration process of Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national suspected of shooting two National Guard soldiers in Washington, D.C. Lakanwal entered the U.S. in 2021 under 'Operation Allies Welcome' and was granted humanitarian parole. He later applied for asylum, which was approved in April 2025. The article reviews Lakanwal's immigration case, highlighting the vetting processes he underwent and the opportunities for federal authorities to identify potential concerns. The Trump administration has cited the attack to expand its immigration crackdown, while critics fault the approval of Lakanwal's asylum case. The article provides details on the asylum process and the laws governing asylum status, including the possibility of termination due to serious crimes.

The Trump administration has paused all immigration applications from 19 countries previously banned from travel, citing national security concerns following the shooting of two National Guard troops by an Afghan national. The pause affects green card applications, naturalizations, and other immigration-related decisions for immigrants from these countries. The administration has also announced a comprehensive review of approved benefit requests for immigrants who entered the US during the Biden administration. Critics argue that the actions amount to collective punishment for immigrants.

The Trump administration has paused immigration applications from 19 countries restricted from travel to the United States, halting green card and U.S. citizenship processing for many people. The move is part of a broader crackdown on immigration following a shooting of two National Guard members in Washington last week. The pause applies to people from countries such as Iran, Sudan, Eritrea, and Haiti, and has caused confusion and disruption among immigration lawyers and their clients. The administration claims the pause is necessary to increase vetting of individuals already in the country.