Afghans in US issue plea to Trump after 'tragic' Washington DC shooting

People who left Afghanistan urge the US president not to toughen his stance after an attack allegedly carried out by an Afghan national.

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The alleged gunman, 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, entered the US under a programme that offered special immigration protections to Afghans who had worked with US forces in Afghanistan, in the wake of its troop withdrawal from the country in 2021.

National Guard member Sarah Beckstrom, 20, was killed in Wednesday's shooting, while her colleague, Andrew Wolfe, 24, is said to be fighting for his life.

In response, US President Donald Trump has halted the processing of all immigration requests from Afghans, ordered a review of green cards issued to individuals from 19 countries, and threatened a wider crackdown on migrants from what he calls "third-world countries".

On Friday, his administration also said it had halted all decisions on asylum claims.