Trump Implements New Immigration Measures After Washington Attack

Trump toughened immigration measures after the Washington attack.

Trump intensified his anti-immigration stance after Rahmanullah Lakanwal was detained and accused of shooting and critically injuring two members of the National Guard in Washington, according to EFE.

The attack, which occurred just meters from the White House, prompted an immediate response from federal agencies and triggered a wave of decisions that are already affecting Afghan citizens with pending immigration cases.

New Immigration Measures From Trump After the Attack

Footage of the arrest, recorded by bystanders, spread quickly and led Trump to escalate his rhetoric.

In an official message, he directly blamed the Joe Biden administration for allowing the suspect to enter the country under Operation Allies Welcome in September 2021.

Trump said it is necessary to “re-examine every foreigner who has entered our country from Afghanistan,” calling the shooting “an act of hatred” — remarks that set the tone for Trump’s new immigration measures.

| Stephen Miller confirmed that following the attack on the National Guard, “refugees” and “asylum seekers” will also be reviewed for deportation: “No one else has to die for what the Democrats did to this country. Trump will accelerate the review of the 20…” pic.twitter.com/m7GFMyaGpp

— La Derecha Diario Estados Unidos (@DerechaDiarioUS) November 27, 2025

He also referred to the suspect as “an animal,” a term his administration has previously used against migrants accused of crimes.

Ten minutes after his message, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced the immediate and indefinite suspension of all immigration applications tied to Afghan citizens.

The agency stated it will review security and background screening protocols before reactivating any processing.

Case Context and Security Landscape

The suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, entered the United States with a two-year temporary permit that later expired, leaving him in an irregular status.

Authorities — including the Metropolitan Police Department and the mayor of Washington — have not yet identified the motive behind the attack or provided information about the suspect’s possible background.

As the case progresses, the federal government increased its military presence in the capital.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced the deployment of 500 additional personnel to the 2,500 already patrolling Washington since August.

He emphasized that the attack took place “just a few meters” from the White House, raising the alert level and accelerating decisions to reinforce security.

The two National Guard members wounded in the attack, both from Virginia, remain hospitalized without a confirmed prognosis.

Organizations supporting Afghan migrants called for “a fair legal process” and warned that the incident should not be used to “disparage an entire community.”

Trump’s New Immigration Measures: What Authorities Said

“Now we must re-examine every foreigner who has entered our country from Afghanistan,” Trump said in his official message.

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USCIS stated: “Effective immediately, all immigration processing related to Afghan citizens is suspended indefinitely.”

What Comes Next

In the coming days, the government will review security procedures applied to Afghan nationals and may extend the evaluation to other groups.

Washington will remain under reinforced surveillance as the investigation continues, carried out jointly by local and federal authorities.

The Department of Justice also requested the invalidation of a court order requiring the removal of the National Guard on December 11, arguing that reducing military presence could lead to “possible illegalities.”

These developments mark a significant escalation in Trump new immigration measures, signaling broader shifts in federal immigration scrutiny.