Trump calls National Guard shooting an "act of terror"
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President Trump at Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, Florida, earlier this month. Photo: Roberto Schmidt/Getty Images
President Trump on Wednesday night confirmed the suspect in the shooting that critically injured two West Virginia National Guard members in Washington, D.C., is an Afghan national and vowed to step up his administration's hardline immigration crackdown.
The latest: Soon after Trump's video address, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced: "Effective immediately, processing of all immigration requests relating to Afghan nationals is stopped indefinitely pending further review of security and vetting protocols."
The big picture: Trump said in his address the Guard members were "shot at point-blank range in a monstrous, ambush-style attack just steps away from the White House" on Wednesday afternoon, adding that it was a "heinous assault" and an act of "evil," "hatred" and "terror."
- The Department of Homeland Security has determined that the suspect was "flown in by the Biden administration in September 2021" and "his status was extended under legislation signed by President Biden," Trump said.
- Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said on X Wednesday night that the suspect had arrived in the U.S. under Biden's "Operation Allies Welcome" program, which was designed to support vulnerable Afghan refugees following the U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan.
What he's saying: Trump said the attack "underscores the single greatest national security threat facing our nation," pointing to millions of immigrants in the U.S. whom he said were "unknown and unvetted."
- He vowed that his administration would "re-examine every single" immigrant who had entered the U.S. from Afghanistan under Biden and "take all necessary measures to ensure the removal" of anyone from any country "who does not belong here, or add benefit to our country."
- Trump confirmed he had directed the Defense Department to mobilize an additional 500 troops to D.C.
- "We will make America totally safe again, and we will bring the perpetrator of this barbaric attack to swift and certain justice," he added.
More from Axios:
- National Guard shooting in D.C. draws condemnation from Trump, lawmakers
- Trump files emergency appeal to keep National Guard in D.C. after shooting
- Trump wants another 500 National Guard in D.C. after shooting near White House
Editor's note: This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.
