Topline
President Donald Trump condemned the shooting of two National Guard members near the White House on Wednesday, labeling it as an “act of terror.” He urged a review of Afghan immigrants who were admitted to the United States under President Biden’s administration, following the identification of an Afghan man as the alleged assailant.
In a video statement, Trump described the incident as a “monstrous, ambush-style attack” that occurred just steps from the White House, targeting the National Guard members at close range.
He characterized the attack as a “heinous assault,” calling it “an act of evil, an act of hatred and an act of terror.” Trump emphasized that it was a “crime against our entire nation” and “a crime against humanity.”
The president stated that the Department of Homeland Security believes the suspect in custody is a foreign national from Afghanistan, referring to the country as a “hellhole on earth.”
Trump asserted that the individual was brought into the U.S. by the Biden administration in September 2021 and claimed that the suspect’s status was extended through legislation signed by President Biden.
He argued that this incident highlights what he believes to be the “single greatest national security threat” to the U.S.: the influx of immigrants during the Biden administration, whom he described as “unknown and unvetted.”
Trump said the attack underscored that the “single greatest national security threat facing our nation” was the millions of immigrants who entered the country during the Biden administration, who he claimed were “unknown and unvetted.”
Trump said his administration will now “re-examine every single” Afghan immigrant who entered the country under Biden and remove anyone “who does not belong here, or add benefit to our country.”
What Do We Know About The Suspension Of Entry Of Afghans?
Shortly after Trump’s address, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced: “Effective immediately, processing of all immigration requests relating to Afghan nationals is stopped indefinitely pending further review of security and vetting protocols. The protection and safety of our homeland and of the American people remains our singular focus and mission.” This processing pause will affect Afghans in the U.S. seeking asylum, attempting to obtain green cards, and pursuing other immigration procedures.
