Any wake of horrific events demands a period of deliberate, thoughtful action. “Business as usual” after tragedy is simply refusing to learn from the past — and almost guaranteeing repeat mistakes.
In the aftermath of Wednesday’s shooting — which left Sarah Beckstrom dead and Andrew Wolfe fighting for his life — the Trump administration announced it would pause all immigration cases involving Afghan nationals, including all pending asylum applications. This along with measures under consideration against countries of concern in addition to Afghanistan. The suspected gunman, 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, entered the United States in September 2021 following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and previously worked with a C.I.A.-backed paramilitary unit.
Administration officials say the vetting process used under the Biden administration failed to identify potential risks and have signaled their intent to re-examine hundreds of thousands of immigration decisions made during that period. The goal, they say, is to ensure those individuals were vetted properly — and to reassess legal status if warranted.
Joseph Edlow, the director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, said in a statement that his agency had “halted all asylum decisions until we can ensure that every alien is vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible.”
Senator Jim Justice Friday on Talkline voiced his support for a pause, saying the administration must ensure vetting is done correctly. Congressman Riley Moore echoed that position on a Sunday cable program.
Some have already criticized Trump’s decision, and they are fully entitled to do so. Our system only works when dissent is welcomed, not discouraged. Scrutiny — sometimes sharp scrutiny — helps ensure that the policies we implement are the right ones.
But in this moment, a temporary pause is a prudent step to identify any weaknesses in the process. The focus shouldn’t be primarily on blame as much as on preventing similar incidents from ever occurring again — particularly if there are individuals with dangerous intentions who slipped through gaps we don’t yet fully understand. That said, accountability for any failures must and will come in due time, once investigations are complete and facts are known. If the Biden administration erred in its process to bring Afghans to America following the war, accountability demands a telling of that error. Same for the Trump administration as it concerns Lakanwal’s official granting of asylum.
A second look at past immigration and asylum decisions is also reasonable. Mistakes are possible — not guaranteed, but possible — and a review is justified in light of the circumstances.
Still, any attempt to revoke asylum or legal status must meet the highest evidentiary standard. Suspicion alone is insufficient, and guilt by association based solely on nationality has no place in our system or in any responsible approach to national security.
President Trump now has an opportunity to strike the right balance. A temporary pause that leads to a thorough, timely, and fair reassessment of vetting procedures, and perhaps an improved process, is something Americans across the spectrum should be able to support. Ending immigration indefinitely is not that balance; legal immigration remains a defining part of the American story.
Finally, transparency must be central as this moves forward. These are not times that call for deeper division or secrecy. Clear communication and openness can help bring the country together — while anything less will only widen the fractures we already feel.
Meanwhile, all of this is probably of little comfort to Sarah and Andy’s families and friends. They’re hurting right now, and the pain is deep. As we continue to lift them up in prayer, the way we conduct ourselves – both as individuals and as a nation – can honor Sarah’s memory and support Andy’s recovery. If we fail to remain civil and empathetic toward each other, we only dishonor them – nobody wants that. It’s important we all be our best selves in the days ahead acting first with grace and understanding.