A ban on visas from "Third World" countries, a freeze on asylum applications, and a review of all green cards issued to citizens of 19 "interesting" countries. Donald Trump is cracking down even harder on migrants following Wednesday's attack in Washington by an Afghan man who attacked two National Guard soldiers, killing 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom.
The commander-in-chief's first move was to announce the "permanent" suspension of all immigration from "Third World countries." "I will end Biden's millions of illegal admissions and deport anyone who is not an asset to the United States or capable of loving our country," warned Trump, who has made the fight against immigration a priority of his second term since day one.
Now, after the attack carried out by Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who had worked with the CIA in Kandahar in one of the so-called Zero Units and had arrived in the United States through the 2021 Operation Allies Welcome program, the American president's axe knows no bounds. The attacker had applied for asylum in 2024 and was granted it in April of this year. "I will end all federal benefits and subsidies for non-citizens of our country, I will denaturalize migrants who threaten internal tranquility, and I will expel any foreign national who represents a public burden, a security risk, or is incompatible with Western civilization," he attacked.
Indeed, shortly thereafter, the Director of Citizenship and Immigration Services, Joseph Edlow, announced the suspension of all asylum applications "until we can ensure that every alien is examined and screened to the fullest extent possible." In addition to Afghanistan, the tycoon is targeting at least 19 countries, including Cuba, Haiti, Iran, Somalia, and Venezuela. Not only will it be virtually impossible for their citizens to apply for a visa or asylum, but even those who have successfully obtained a green card will not be safe. Trump has ordered a "thorough and rigorous" review of all permanent residence permits.
The White House's crackdown has raised alarm among the millions of foreigners living or seeking to settle in the United States, starting with Afghans. The Community Coalition expressed its solidarity with the families of the victims of the attack and called for a thorough investigation. But it also appealed to Trump not to delay or suspend immigration applications. "Twenty years of Afghanistan-US partnership must not be forgotten," the coalition said in a statement. Afghans living in the United States also fear reprisals against them by the Americans. The shooting was an "individual crime, not representative of a community," they emphasized. A "deeply tragic" event that occurred in a "very tense political climate in Washington."
(Unioneonline)