The shooting attack against two National Guardsmen in Washington, DC that claimed the life of Sarah Beckstrom, just 20 years old, at the hands of an Afghan citizen who obtained asylum in the United States in April, began to have repercussions Immediate immigration proceedings, at least among Afghan nationals.

“Effective immediately, the processing of all immigration applications related to Afghan nationals is suspended indefinitely pending further review of security and investigative protocols. The protection and security of our homeland and the American people remains our sole focus and mission,” the statement from US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) reads.

The suspect is Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who entered the United States in 2021 as part of Operation Allies Welcome under the Joe Biden administration. The program aimed to assist Afghan nationals who had served alongside US and allied forces in Afghanistan for 20 years, performing a variety of roles, from interpreters to intelligence and military personnel. The Taliban's return to power meant their lives were in danger. The program granted them a special two-year visa and was later revised to assist Afghans in adjusting their status through other immigration programs, including refugee status. But now all immigration applications from Afghans have been halted. Even Stephen Miller, Trump's advisor and architect of his most disastrous immigration policies, says they will go further and review the immigration status of those who have entered the United States in the past four years. The deployment of National Guard troops in Democratic-led cities to, according to Trump, combat crime and assist with immigration enforcement, has been criticized and challenged in court. A federal judge ruled that the deployment of the National Guard in the nation's capital is illegal. But he postponed his order until December 11 to give the Trump administration time to appeal the ruling.

What is certain is that the Trump administration will use this terrible tragedy to intensify its already severe immigration policies.

Detentions and deportations affect even those close to the White House

This week it was demonstrated that Trump's crusade of detentions and deportations can affect even his staunchest supporters.

The press reported that the former sister-in-law of the White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, was detained by ICE and is in a detention center in Louisiana awaiting deportation to Brazil. Bruna Caroline Ferreira is the mother of Leavitt's 11-year-old nephew, the son of her older brother.

The media noted that Ferreira and Leavitt are not related. Ferreira arrived in the country as a child and, according to the press, was a DACA recipient.

Quote of the Week

“It's so sad what's happening with the raids. We come from our countries with the dream of a better life because the situation is difficult there, but right now we're living worse here… They treat us as if we were worse than criminals. I think that people who get out of jail are given more opportunities than us, who are working decently and honestly.” Veronica, a Mexican immigrant who overcomes her fear of the raids to participate in a Thanksgiving dinner with other immigrants in the Los Angeles Mission District.