_WHAT’S HAPPENING_

An Afghan national who entered the country under the Biden administration shot two National Guard members near the White House on Thanksgiving eve. Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, died from her injuries, while Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, remains in critical condition.

In response, the Trump administration launched a sweeping immigration crackdown, pausing all asylum decisions and halting visa processing for Afghan nationals.

_THE FACTS_

  • Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, entered the US in September 2021 under Biden’s Operation Allies Welcome program.

  • He worked with the CIA-backed “Zero Unit” in Kandahar for about eight years before the US withdrawal.

  • Refugee officials warned in 2023 that Lakanwal was “spiraling into mania,” yet he received asylum in April 2025.

  • Witnesses said the suspect shouted “Allahu akbar” before opening fire with a revolver.

  • Attorney General Pam Bondi said Lakanwal will face first-degree murder charges, and the death penalty will be sought.

  • President Trump ordered a pause on all asylum decisions and halted Afghan visa processing pending a full review.

  • Trump vowed to “permanently pause migration from all Third World countries” to protect national security.

  • The president enacted a review of green card holders from 19 countries of concern.

  • Trump also posted part of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, which grants the president the right to exclude broad classes of aliens.

_INSIGHTS_

This attack was made possible by immense failures in the Biden administration’s Afghanistan withdrawal and its Operation Allies Welcome screening process, while the Trump administration failed in extending asylum to the alleged perpetrator back in April.

Now, President Trump and the Right more broadly are reflecting on how mass immigration from third-world countries has endangered Americans. But while Trump has promised big changes, the actual moves thus far — such as blocking Afghan visa processing — have been relatively small.

Correction, Oct. 31, 2026: An earlier version of this article misidentified the law Trump posted. The president’s power to bar classes of immigrants comes from Section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952.

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david kerkhoff1 year ago

yes, by rejecting those who don't assimilate into our culture and any who hate our country and its people. there should be a process that can root out those who are incompatible with our society.

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Bob Mac1 year ago

I agree with you David. In most of USA history our immigration has primarily been from people groups with similar similar heritage and religious beliefs. Today we are allowing immigrants from wide variety of cultures and religions some of which are diametrically opposed to the existence of the United States. Instead of strengthening the US, it is causing fractures.

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Fred Scott1 year ago

Personally, I think it's time to end it all; we don't want what happened in Europe and Britain here! GOD save the USA!

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Bonnie Hissom1 year ago

I hate to admit it has come to this, but yes immigration of people from third world countries should be regulated, halted, or frozen. “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to be free,” does not include terrorists.

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Jorge Rios1 year ago

YES. Must put a complete stop to it for at least one to two years to allow time to get things under control.

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Bob Hrebec1 year ago

Absolutely. ESPECIALLY from Islamic countries!!!!! Zero Muslims. Ever. Beyond that immigration should be needs based. OUR needs. For instance if we need labors let in those that fit the profile. Same with techies and engineers, and medical. It should "what can you do for us".... Not " what can we do for you!".

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Tracey Powers 1 year ago

Yes. We need to face the reality of what is actually happening to our country and to our citizens. We cannot continue to admit people into our country that hate us, hate our freedom, hate our very culture and refuse to assimilate and become actual Americans who obey our just laws.

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David Lopez1 year ago

I sure do want to have all the illegal's out of the country ---if the judges put a stop to that --send them to the judges house for assimilation with the judges family !!!!!!

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Jim Powers 1 year ago

Stop everything until we get this straightened out.

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Ang Palm1 year ago

Yes. It needs to end or it will end America. Those who will not assimilate and honor the American way of life and laws need not stay or enter. As well, deport those who are already living in the U.S. and trying to set up their own mini country within the U.S. borders. America has laws based on the constitution and No other (Sharia etc) laws belong in the country.

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Lauren Sauvageot 1 year ago

YES!! America and natural born Americans FIRST! Look what is happening in Europe, UK and Australia. Immigration is causing more evil than any good.

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Heidi Rothberg1 year ago

Absolutely!! We don''t know how they are. They go on welfare and stay there. They hate us and our culture and will take over as they've done in Dearborn, Minneapolis and other cities. They don't assimilate and state outright that they're here to "put Islam in every home". That's only the muslims. The others aren't any better educated and they refuse to assimilate as well.

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D Curtis1 year ago

Yes. We need to keep America safe for Americans. Immigrants are welcome IF they come legally. They must show they want to be a contributing part of this great country. We have plenty of homegrown losers, we don't need other countries rejects.

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David Hooten1 year ago

Hooty - Yes, their records are either missing, vague, and many unsubstantiated. We should limit immigration from those countries where proper vetting, BEFOREHAND, and therefore are a national security risk.

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Kevin Sargent1 year ago

How long before "bad players" manufacture acceptable "backgrounds"? Given AI, and Muslim Lying, "vetting" is a Very BAD Joke!

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Than Johnson1 year ago

It seems this immigrate showed mental health tendencies that were ignored by local officials and move toward a violent anti-American behavior. How do we monitor such changes? Also, in prior conflicts in other countries, those local inhabitants, who assisted US efforts were valued and provided asylum after intense interrogation. Do we just stop doing that and therefore lose that important local service in future conflicts?

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Jane Braun1 year ago

Yes we lose because the third world culture Can't be trusted. Don't trust them. They have not been raised with the American value system. Stop all third world immigration based on their ethnic background. Not because they are muslim coming to American through Europe. The is racial - Yes it has to be !!!

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Robert Daniels1 year ago

It is too late. Yes, stopping the immigration from "3rd world countries" is a start, but getting people out of our country is more important. Eyes wide open here, and very concerned about the people in our population that do NOT love America, don't want to see America succeed, and are not going to be a positive, working, capitalist addition to our country. Our Constitution was written for a good and moral population. That good and moral comes from Christianity and Christian beliefs.

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Fred Fitzgerald1 year ago

The basis of immigration is to welcome well meaning individuals to integrate into the country. It presumes that the people will accept our culture, language, and laws. Those who intentionally hold onto the language, culture, and laws of their prior countries are neither good guests, nor potential citizens and should be identified during the vetting process and rejected. And consistent with this, all legal documents and ancillary documents should be available only in the English language.

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Jim Powers1 year ago

Yes and I think ALL immigration should be halted until we have taken our country back from the illegals. Emergency applications for asylum could still be considered but otherwise, stop it all.

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Kevin Sargent1 year ago

DUH!! We have A Real, SEROIUS Problem! NO Idea How Many "foreign nationals" were transplanted, Completely UNVETTED!! Bigger issue: devout Muslims can say WHATEVER Necessary, so "vetting" is Neigh Impossible! Only Reliable answer WON'T go over well with Liberals - F' Them, people are DYING!

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Kevin Sargent1 year ago

What gives? No edit method?? (sp) @ "serious"

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D K1 year ago

YES! The preceding comments spell out the urgent actions needed ASAP.

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Vicki Small1 year ago

A "permanent" end to immigration for every third-world country sounds very ... permanent and broad-brushing. But for a period of perhaps two years with the option to renew? Yes, I think something on that order is needed to give the necessary departments in our government time to fix our system. Could take five years, or more.

One problem I have is that our northern border let in some of the men who were involved in 9-11. Strict vetting at every port of entry into the U.S. is needed.

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Patricia Campbell1 year ago

Yes, but it's already very late. The damage done by Biden will take generations to rectify. I was insulted when congressman Mark Kelly claimed Trump didn't want to allow any brown people into the country. What a jerk. He's positioning himself for a presidential run.

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Joe Cavanaugh1 year ago

I just don’t think we have a choice right now.

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Jim Harmon1 year ago

I do believe that drastic changes are necessary to reduce the threat to our country in whatever way possible. Will it affect those who aren't criminals or radicalized Islamists? Yes! But we can't be squishy in our approach. It has to be radical and remain that way until a more reasonable immigration policy can be effective.

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Jane Braun1 year ago

I agree with every response below - get them out of our country - Don't let any more in. EVER!!

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Jim Ahern1 year ago

Third world folks serve absolutely no purpose coming into the U.S.. They cause many an issue however from economic strain, to societal issue, to crime-ridden issues. They are not here to assimilate to our foundations and principles and are simply a burden on the everyday American citizen in many a form and fashion. So why have our "dedicated" government servants brought them into the country in the first place for so many years? I don't think I need to explain that to the folks on this board, as the writings on the wall. The best and brightest who want to join the American spirit and add to it's success are the only ones who should be eligible, the rest need not apply..