Trump Blames Lax Immigration for National Guard Attack/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ After two National Guard members were shot in Washington, Trump called lax immigration policies the nation’s top threat. The suspect, an Afghan national admitted under Biden’s Operation Allies Welcome, reignited scrutiny of refugee vetting. Trump pledged tougher reviews and broader immigration restrictions, sparking political backlash and immigrant advocacy concerns.
Immigration Crackdown Quick Looks
- Trump condemned the shooting of two National Guard members as a consequence of failed immigration policy.
- Suspect identified as an Afghan refugee resettled under Biden’s Operation Allies Welcome program.
- Trump promised a full review of Afghan arrivals since 2021 and wider migrant deportations.
- Criticism extended to Somali refugees, highlighting broader anti-immigration rhetoric.
- USCIS halted Afghan immigration processing for new and pending cases.
- Afghan advocates warn against political exploitation of an isolated tragedy.
- VP JD Vance defended Trump’s immigration stance and criticized media pushback.
Trump Blames Lax Immigration for National Guard Attack
Deep Look
President Donald Trump described the recent shooting of two National Guard members near the White House as “a heinous assault,” using the incident to escalate his calls for stricter immigration policies. In a social media video released Wednesday, Trump labeled relaxed migration rules “the single greatest national security threat facing our nation.”
Trump’s remarks come amid renewed scrutiny of the country’s refugee admissions and vetting systems, particularly for Afghans who arrived during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. Authorities have identified the suspect as a 29-year-old Afghan national who entered the U.S. as part of Operation Allies Welcome — a program created under President Joe Biden’s administration to help resettle Afghan allies following the Taliban’s return to power.
The suspect was among approximately 76,000 Afghans granted entry under the initiative. These individuals were evacuated in haste as American forces departed Kabul, many of them having worked alongside U.S. troops and diplomats. While the program was praised by refugee advocates as a life-saving effort, it has also been criticized by Trump, Republican lawmakers, and government watchdogs for what they describe as inadequate vetting procedures.
Trump called Afghanistan “a hellhole on earth,” pledging that his administration would reexamine every individual who entered the country under Biden’s oversight. That process, according to Trump, had already been in planning before the recent shooting, but the attack has intensified his urgency.
In addition to Afghan refugees, Trump widened his criticisms to Somali immigrants, singling out the Somali-American population in Minnesota. “Hundreds of thousands of Somalians are ripping apart that once-great state,” he claimed, despite the lack of connection between Somali immigrants and the recent attack. Minnesota is home to the largest Somali community in the United States, with roughly 87,000 residents.
These broad criticisms reflect Trump’s wider goal of drastically reducing immigration. His administration has already begun shifting federal resources to accelerate deportations and scale back refugee admissions. Trump made it clear that these policies will continue and intensify.
“If they can’t love our country, we don’t want them,” he stated.
In a significant administrative response, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a halt to processing immigration requests from Afghan nationals pending a review of security and vetting protocols. This move affects both recent applicants and those still waiting abroad in transit hubs across Europe and the Middle East.
Advocates for Afghan evacuees expressed concern that the attack would further stigmatize thousands of refugees who went through legal and exhaustive screening procedures. Shawn VanDiver, president of the advocacy group #AfghanEvac, warned against turning an isolated event into political ammunition. “I don’t want people to leverage this tragedy into a political ploy,” he said.
VanDiver emphasized that tens of thousands of Afghan evacuees underwent security checks, medical evaluations, and months of resettlement procedures before entering U.S. communities. Many of those still awaiting resettlement have been stranded in countries like Qatar and Albania for years, hoping for clearance that may now never come under the Trump administration’s freeze.
The Biden-era Operation Allies Welcome initially processed Afghan arrivals through military bases, where background checks and health screenings were conducted. However, the latest political developments have left the program’s future uncertain.
Vice President JD Vance joined the chorus of criticism, targeting the Biden administration for what he called opening “the floodgate to unvetted Afghan refugees.” On social media, Vance dismissed calls for more lenient immigration policies and used the shooting as a justification for stronger controls. “Tonight is a reminder of why they’re wrong,” he wrote.
As Trump returns to his immigration-first messaging, the debate over U.S. refugee policy continues to divide the political landscape. The shooting, while tragic, now serves as a flashpoint for a broader ideological battle over America’s borders, security, and values.
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