Post by : Rameen Ariff

President Donald Trump has intensified his stance on immigration, saying he wants to “permanently pause migration” from poorer nations and review the legal status of millions of immigrants already living in the United States. He blamed immigration for issues ranging from crime to housing shortages, calling it part of a broader “social dysfunction” gripping the country.

The strong remarks followed the shooting of two National Guard members patrolling Washington, D.C., under Trump’s crime-control directive. One soldier died from injuries, while the other remains in critical condition.

In response, Trump announced plans to send an additional 500 National Guard personnel to the capital, though it remains unclear which states those reinforcements would come from. Currently, more than 2,200 Guard members from several states are deployed in D.C.

Investigation Into the Shooting

Authorities say 29-year-old Lakanwal opened fire on the Guard members shortly after turning a street corner. Troops immediately tackled and detained him. Officials believe he acted alone.

Lakanwal, who suffered non–life-threatening injuries, had previously served in a CIA-backed Afghan military unit before moving to the U.S. in 2021 under Operation Allies Welcome — the program created to evacuate Afghans after the American withdrawal from Afghanistan. His asylum case, filed under the Biden administration, was approved during Trump’s presidency.

Investigators are examining warrants in multiple states as they work to establish a motive. Officials have declined to comment on what may have prompted the attack.

The Fallen and the Injured

The soldiers shot were Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24 — both from the West Virginia National Guard. They had been stationed in Washington since August as part of Trump’s law-enforcement initiative.

Beckstrom, a recent high-school graduate who volunteered for the mission, died from her injuries. Wolfe remains in critical condition.

West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey ordered flags to be flown at half-staff and called for a statewide moment of silence to honor the two soldiers. He described them as heroes who were “serving our country and protecting the nation’s capital” when they were attacked.

Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, confirmed that charges against Lakanwal have been upgraded to first-degree murder following Beckstrom’s death. She noted that additional charges may follow as the investigation deepens.

Immigration Debate Intensifies

The attack has fueled Trump’s renewed push to reassess millions of legal immigrants and reduce the overall immigrant population. His administration has already spent nearly a year reviewing immigration cases, and the latest incident has accelerated those efforts.

In his late-night social media statement, Trump argued that many societal challenges faced by the country are linked to foreign-born residents and called for what he described as “reverse migration.”

#Global News