By Harshit
WASHINGTON, NOVEMBER 28, 2025, 8:15 AM EDT
A deadly shooting just steps from the White House has escalated into a national political firestorm, after a 20-year-old National Guard member was killed and another critically wounded in what officials describe as a “targeted attack”. The assault has prompted President Donald Trump to intensify his hardline immigration agenda, halt key migration programs, and consider the deportation of the suspect’s family.
Authorities identified the shooter as 29-year-old Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who arrived in the United States in 2021 under Operation Allies Welcome following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. He was granted asylum in April 2025 under the Trump administration. Officials say the suspect is wounded and in custody.
The attack has sparked sweeping reactions across Washington, from heightened security deployments to renewed political clashes over the handling of Afghan evacuees and immigration vetting protocols. For residents and visitors near the White House, the shock of the ambush was immediate and profound. For the families of the service members, it has brought unimaginable grief.
Slain Guardsman Identified as Sarah Beckstrom
The fallen service member, Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, was deployed to Washington, D.C., as part of Operation DC Safe and Beautiful. She had enlisted in the West Virginia National Guard in June 2023 and served as a military police officer.
On Thursday evening, the West Virginia National Guard confirmed her death, describing her as a soldier of “strength, character, and commitment.” A procession for her remains moved solemnly through the capital, lined with military police, National Guard personnel, Secret Service, DC Fire, DEA officers, and top Defense Department leaders, including Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Her community in West Virginia held a candlelight vigil, with classmates remembering her kindness, optimism, and desire to join the FBI after completing her Guard service.
Her former boyfriend described her as “a loving, caring person” with “a huge heart,” recounting the small gestures that defined her character.
“She would do anything for anyone,” he said. “She was so excited to serve.”
Second Guardsman Fights for His Life
The second victim, U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, remains in critical condition after undergoing emergency surgery. Military leaders have asked for prayers from the nation, emphasizing the courage of the Guardsmen who subdued the shooter even as two of their own were hit.
“These Guardsmen came to the District from West Virginia to make their nation’s capital safe and beautiful,” said Col. Larry Doane of Joint Task Force–DC. “They’re heroes.”
The Suspect: An Afghan National Under Operation Allies Welcome
Officials identified the shooter as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who arrived in the U.S. on September 8, 2021, shortly after Kabul fell to the Taliban. He had previously worked with the CIA in Afghanistan, according to former CIA Director John Ratcliffe.
Timeline of the suspect’s presence in the U.S.:
- 2021: Entered via Operation Allies Welcome under the Biden administration
- 2024: Filed for asylum
- 2025: Granted asylum by the Trump administration
A U.S. official told CNN that Lakanwal had been “clean on all checks” before being cleared to work with U.S. authorities and again prior to his arrival in the United States.
The Taliban’s ambassador to Qatar, Suhail Shaheen, issued a statement calling for a “vast investigation,” suggesting the suspect had been previously aligned with U.S. intelligence interests. The U.S. government does not recognize the Taliban as Afghanistan’s official government.
Trump Reacts: A Sweeping Immigration Halt and Family Deportation Review
Within hours of announcing Beckstrom’s death, President Trump addressed the nation from Mar-a-Lago, calling the shooting a “monstrous ambush” and pledging to enact the toughest immigration actions of his presidency.
In a late-night post, he declared:
“I will permanently pause migration from all Third World Countries.”
Trump did not specify which countries he considers “Third World,” a term he has used frequently in his political rhetoric. He also pledged to:
- End federal benefits and subsidies for “noncitizens”
- Review all green cards issued to immigrants from 19 countries of concern
- Reexamine every asylum case approved under the Biden administration
- “Denaturalize and deport” migrants who he says undermine public safety
- Remove anyone he deems “not a net asset to the United States”
He indicated the administration is evaluating whether to deport Lakanwal’s wife and children, who reside in Washington state.
“We’re looking at the whole situation with the family,” Trump said.
This marks one of the most sweeping post-crisis immigration declarations in modern U.S. history.
US Agencies Halt Afghan-Related Immigration Cases
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced Thursday that it has indefinitely halted all immigration processing related to Afghan nationals, pending a review of vetting procedures.
This pause affects:
- asylum claims
- green card reviews
- Special Immigrant Visa processing
- refugee reunification cases
More than 190,000 Afghans have resettled in the U.S. under Operation Allies Welcome and its successor, Enduring Welcome.
Advocacy groups warn that thousands of Afghan families could now face indefinite delays, placing those waiting abroad in unsafe conditions.
National Guard Deployment in DC Faces Legal Scrutiny
Despite a federal judge ruling that Trump’s earlier National Guard deployment in Washington was unlawful, the administration has now requested 500 additional Guard troops to bolster security in the capital.
The Justice Department has simultaneously filed for an emergency stay to override the judge’s ruling.
Critics argue the increased military presence risks inflaming tensions and expanding executive power in the capital. The White House argues it is necessary “to secure the homeland.”
Grief and Anger Across the Nation
The killing of a young Guardsman on the eve of Thanksgiving has triggered a wave of grief, political division, and community solidarity.
Attorney General Pam Bondi said the nation should be “devastated” and promised: “There WILL BE JUSTICE for Sarah.”
FBI Director Kash Patel called her “a patriot with her entire life ahead of her.”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described her as “an American hero.”
Meanwhile, Afghan community organizations urged Americans not to demonize innocent families.
“Do not punish a community for the deranged choice of one man,” said Shawn VanDiver, president of AfghanEvac.
A Community in West Virginia Mourns
In Beckstrom’s hometown of Summersville and in Webster Springs, candlelit gatherings continued into the evening.
Residents remembered a young woman who loved her family, loved her country, and had hoped for a life in federal law enforcement.
“She made everybody happier,” one classmate said. “Nobody was as nice as she was.”
Her high school released a statement praising her character and courage, posting a photo depicting her as a proud young soldier wearing her uniform.
A Nation on Edge Heading Into the Holiday Weekend
The shooting has raised urgent questions:
- What was the suspect’s motive?
- Was the attack linked to politics or ideology?
- How did he obtain his weapon?
- Could the deployment itself have made Guard members vulnerable?
- How far will Trump’s immigration freeze go?
Federal investigators say the inquiry is ongoing and that the suspect is expected to face federal charges once cleared medically.
As Americans gather for Thanksgiving, the killing of a young National Guard soldier in the heart of the nation’s capital stands as a painful reminder of the fragility of public safety and the long shadow of geopolitical conflict.