ATTACKS TARGETING NATIONAL INTERVENTIONS AND PRESIDENT TRUMP’S DECISION TO “FREEZE THIRD WORLD MIGRATION”: AN ASSESSMENT FROM THE PERSPECTIVES OF SECURITY, POLITICS, AND INTERNATIONAL LAW

On November 28, 2025, an armed attack targeting two National Guard members in an area near the White House in Washington, D.C., became an event that affected both the US domestic security agenda and global migration policies. The arrest of the suspect, 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who was resettled in the US from Afghanistan in 2021 under the "Operation Allies Welcome" program, has led to renewed scrutiny of the security aspects of the immigration and asylum system. US President Donald Trump's statement immediately after the incident, "We are permanently stopping immigration from Third World countries," shows that this attack led to a much more comprehensive policy shift. This article aims to place the 2025 incident in a broader context of the relationship between migration and security by examining the background of the attack, the Trump administration's response, and the assessments of international institutions.

The attack in Washington appears to have been a "premeditated" ambush, according to initial investigations. According to prosecutor Jeanine Pirro, Lakanwal opened fire on a National Guard patrol with a powerful .357 Magnum pistol, killing one soldier and critically wounding another, who was taken to hospital. This situation has led to renewed public debate about the security screening and assessment processes of the protection programs provided by the US to allied forces.

Immediately after the attack, the Trump administration treated the incident not only as a criminal case but also as a critical turning point in terms of immigration policy. In a statement on Truth Social, Trump said, "Anyone who is not a clear asset to the United States must be removed from the system," announcing that hundreds of thousands of immigration and asylum cases approved during the Biden administration would be re-examined. This statement appears to signal the launch of broad national security reviews, particularly with reference to the travel ban list covering 19 countries.

International organizations, however, are taking a more cautious approach. The United Nations, reminding the US of its obligations under the 1953 Refugee Convention, emphasizes the right of asylum seekers to individual assessment and fair trial. Migration researchers and civil society organizations have argued that generalizing an isolated crime to justify collective restriction policies could raise both ethical and legal issues. According to experts, transforming exceptional cases into large-scale anti-immigration practices on political grounds risks undermining both the integrity of the refugee protection system and social cohesion.

The attack on the National Guard was not merely a tragic security incident, but has become a turning point shaping the future of immigration policy in the US. The large-scale immigration restrictions proposed by the Trump administration in the aftermath of the incident indicate that the balance between the US refugee admission system, international obligations, and internal security strategies is being reestablished. However, the political context in which the attack is being used has also led to the rise of scientifically unsound conclusions, such as the generalization of criminal tendencies among immigrants and refugees.

International law, while recognizing the security needs of states, also requires the protection of the individual rights of refugees. Therefore, the 2025 Washington incident has had significant repercussions both in US domestic political debates and on the global migration regime, raising new questions about how migration-security relations should be managed.

References:

The Guardian. “Trump says he will ‘permanently pause’ migration after National Guard shooting.” 28 Kasım 2025.