Washington.- President of the United States, donald trump, Reported Wednesday night A “An act of terrorism” He promised to strengthen his anti-immigration policies afterward Two National Guard members were seriously injured near the White House On charges of shooting attributed to an Afghan citizen who subsequently entered his country The chaotic withdrawal of US forces from Kabul Which gave way to something new Taliban regime.
The suspect, who resided in Washington state, was identified by authorities Most Gracious God Lakanwal, 29 years old. also He was injured During an exchange of fire at members of the National Guard.
According to the American media, Lakanwal is An Afghan national who worked for 10 years with Washington’s forces in Afghanistan Before they were evacuated to the United States in September 2021, following the chaotic collapse of the government in Kabul, Americans frantically evacuated people as the Taliban took control.
Lakmal arrived in Bellingham, Wash., about 80 miles north of Seattle, with his wife and five children, according to Christina Weidman, who was renting a house to them.
The suspect was part of “Operation Welcoming Allies” Government programme Joe Biden Which resettled tens of thousands of Afghans after the United States withdrew from the country, according to American officials. Initiative brought approximately 76,000 Afghans to the United States, Many of them have worked alongside U.S. troops and diplomats as interpreters and translators.
Since then, the program has encountered a And intense scrutiny by Trump and his allies, Republicans in Congress and some government watchdogs talk about loopholes in the vetting process and speed of admission, even as supporters say it provides a lifeline to people at risk of Taliban retaliation.
Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), John Ratcliffe He explained in detail that as members of the coalition forces in Kandahar, Afghanistan, Lakanwal has worked for several US government agencies, including intelligence agencies.
“To this person, and many others, “They should never have been allowed to come here.” Ratcliffe told the site. Fox News. “Our citizens and military deserve far better than to bear the continuing consequences of the Biden administration’s catastrophic failures.”
The alleged perpetrator of the attack also Apply for asylum in 2024 And the authorities It was given to them at the beginning of the year, CNN reported, citing the FBI.
In a short video clip released by the White House on Wednesday evening, Trump said that the suspect arrived in the United States in 2021 “on those infamous flights.” In reference to the evacuations of Afghans after the Taliban took control of power after Washington withdrew from the country.
He pointed this out Its controversial policy of expelling immigrants who are in the United States illegally, The core of your local agenda will receive a new boost from this episode.
Trump claimed that the “heinous attack” in Washington showed this Permissive immigration policies are “the greatest national security threat facing our nation.”
He added: “No country can bear such a risk to our survival.”
Trump described Afghanistan as “hell on earth” and told his government Everyone who entered the country during the Biden era will be reviewed. This is a measure that his government had already planned before the incident.
Shortly after that letter, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the federal agency that oversees legal immigration, took action.
“With immediate effect, The processing of all immigration applications for Afghan citizens has been temporarily halted indefinitely“Waiting for additional review of security and verification protocols,” the agency wrote on social media.
“This isolated, violent act was not a crime,” stressed Sean VanDriver, president of Afghan EVAC, a group that helped resettle Afghans in the United States after Washington’s withdrawal. They should be used as an excuse to define or belittle an entire community“.
The shooting occurred in the afternoon in the heart of Washington, a few blocks from the White House Hundreds of National Guard agents have been patrolling the streets since August at Trump’s request And against the opinion of the democratic local authorities.
Washington Deputy Police Chief Jeffrey Carroll said the attacker He “ambushed” his victims. “He turned the corner, raised a firearm and shot the National Guard members,” he added.
Washington police said they were “unaware of any motive” for the attack.
Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, cash battle, He said that The two members of the National Guard were in “critical condition” and it was announced that the case was being investigated as terrorism.
This is the most serious incident against the National Guard since Trump took office Sending troops into the streets of many Democratic-run cities Shortly after beginning his second term in January.
After the shooting on Wednesday, Defense Minister Pete Hegseth Post an announcement 500 additional troops in Washington This brings the total to 2,500.
Last Thursday, a federal judge ruled that Trump ordered the deployment of National Guard forces in the American capital It was illegal.
under “Operation Welcoming Allies” Tens of thousands of Afghans were initially transferred to US military bases across the country, where they completed immigration procedures and medical evaluations before settling in the country. Four years later, there are still many Afghans evacuated at transit points in the Middle East and Europe as part of the program.
Those in countries like Qatar and Albania, who underwent a strict process, have been left in limbo since Trump took office for his second term. He paused the program as part of his series of executive actions to reduce immigration.
This program allowed some vulnerable Afghan citizens to enter the United States permits for two years, Which has not been granted any type of permanent immigration status. Instead, Afghans were expected to apply for other means of remaining in the country, such as asylum.
When the program was launched, Biden administration officials presented the initiative as An effort to assist those who were critical in assisting American forces And in American efforts to build civil society in Afghanistan, who have been subjected to Taliban retaliation. They pointed out that the program includes investigations and security checks.
The Congressional Research Service estimated this About 77,000 Afghans entered the United States under this program, Which has been in effect for about a year.
The Department of Homeland Security’s Inspector General found some program failed, – There are errors in the data of some individuals who entered through the initiative.
Vice President JD Vance criticized Biden on social media for “Opening the door to unverified Afghan refugees” Adding, “They should not have been in our country.”
“Some voices in the corporate media are already saying our immigration policies are too harsh,” he said. “Tonight is a reminder of why they were wrong.”
AP, AFP and newspaper agencies New York Times