Sarah Beckstrom, a 20-year-old member of the West Virginia National Guard, tragically died on Thursday following a targeted ambush-style attack near the White House in Washington D.C. on Wednesday. Donald Trump announced her death, describing her as a "highly respected, young, magnificent person." Beckstrom's father, Gary Beckstrom, had earlier confirmed his daughter suffered a "mortal wound" and was unlikely to recover. Another guardsman, 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe, also from the West Virginia National Guard, remains in critical condition following the shooting. Both guardsmen were part of hundreds of troops deployed to Washington as part of a crime-fighting mission.

Authorities have identified the suspect as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, who is now in custody. Lakanwal reportedly drove across the country from his home in Bellingham, Washington state, to D.C. before using a .357 Smith & Wesson revolver to shoot one guard member twice and then fire at the second. Other National Guard members at the scene engaged and neutralized the suspect. US Attorney for Washington D.C., Jeanine Pirro, stated that Lakanwal would be charged with three counts of assault with intent to kill while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, with charges potentially escalating to first-degree murder if the victims did not survive. Pirro also noted that the suspected shooter yelled "Allahu Akbar" before the attack. FBI Director Kash Patel announced that the agency is investigating the shooting as an act of terrorism, though investigators currently have no information on a motive and believe Lakanwal acted alone. Search warrants have been executed at the suspect’s homes in Washington and San Diego, California.

Lakanwal’s background reveals he came to the U.S. in September 2021 from Afghanistan under a program for Afghans who had worked with the U.S. government, specifically as an ally of Special Forces troops in a CIA-backed "Zero Unit" during the conflict in Afghanistan. The CIA confirmed his involvement, stating he was a member of a partner force in Kandahar. His cousin indicated Lakanwal was originally from Khost province, worked as a security guard, and was later promoted to team leader and GPS specialist in a special Afghan Army unit. A longtime friend told The New York Times that Lakanwal had "suffered mental issues" from the horrors he witnessed and the violence he carried out in combat, struggling to cope with "blood, bodies, and the wounded."

The timeline of Lakanwal's immigration status has become a point of political debate. He was initially paroled into the U.S. by the Biden administration in September 2021 under Operation Allies Welcome. After his temporary visa lapsed, he applied for asylum in 2024, which was granted by the Trump administration in April 2025. This has led to conflicting accusations regarding responsibility. Donald Trump blamed the Biden administration for failing to properly vet migrants from Afghanistan, calling the withdrawal "disastrous" for allowing unvetted foreigners to enter. Conversely, a White House official argued that Lakanwal would not have been removed due to his parole status, which was part of a program signed into law by Joe Biden and bound USCIS to expedite his asylum claim. CIA Director John Ratcliffe also initially echoed Trump's sentiment about unvetted foreigners, but it later emerged that the Trump administration itself granted Lakanwal permission to stay.

In response to the attack, Donald Trump announced a series of stringent immigration measures. He stated he would "permanently pause migration" from all Third World countries to allow the U.S. system to recover, advocating for "REVERSE MIGRATION." He also ordered a green card audit of 19 nations, vowed to end all federal benefits for noncitizens, denaturalize migrants who undermine the U.S., and deport any foreign nationals deemed a security risk or "non-compatible with Western Civilization." Trump had previously called for a re-examination of every Afghan national who entered the country under Biden, emphasizing the need to ensure the removal of those who "can't love our country."

Federal agencies have begun responding to the increased scrutiny. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced it has stopped processing all immigration requests related to Afghan nationals. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) expanded this directive to include a review of all asylum cases approved under the Biden administration, though it did not specify if this review would extend beyond Afghan nationals. Furthermore, USCIS director Joseph Edlow confirmed a "full-scale, rigorous re-examination of every green card for every alien from every country of concern," referencing Trump's executive order restricting entry for nationals of 19 countries. Adding to security measures, Trump also announced his intention to send 500 more National Guard troops to Washington D.C., despite a federal judge recently ordering an end to the Guard deployment—a ruling put on hold for 21 days.