WASHINGTON, D.C. – The administration is reviewing immigration policies, visas And sending more National Guard troops to dc following last week’s shooting against two National Guard members. One of the service members died. Officials said the other is in serious condition.
On Sunday, the President said he invited the families of the two national guardsmen who were shot last week to the White House.
“We’re gonna honor Sarah and likewise with Andrew, recover or not,” said the President.
Sarah Beckstrom died and the West Virginia Governor said Andrew Wolfe is still in serious condition.
The shooting happened the day before Thanksgiving about a block and a half away from the White House. Officials said the suspect, a 29-year old man from Afghanistan, appeared to have targeted the National Guardsmen.
The administration is now looking to step up their anti-immigration policies following the shooting. Officials said the suspect entered the US through a Biden administration temporary program which helped Afghan nationals flee Taliban rule.
“It also means reckoning with why this atrocity was allowed to happen in the first place so that it may never occur again,” said Karoline Leavitt, the White House Press Secretary.
The administration paused all asylum decisions and stopped issuing visas to people from Afghanistan, but that’s not all. On top of the roughly two-thousand National Guard members already in the capital, the President is also looking to add 500 more National Guard to DC to build up the President’s anti-crime initiative.
We asked visitors how they felt about it. Some off camera told us they didn’t think additional National Guard is necessary, but some visitors say otherwise.
“I think if the President wants to do that and he thinks he needs to do that and to keep the public safe, why not,” said Yvonne, who is visiting DC.
“I think what my mom said yes, but I think he also needs a bit more information like who is the shooter, is he part of a gang or group, just a bigger scope,” said Michelle, who is visiting DC with Yvonne. “ Of course, keeping the people safe but you have to remember the guards of course they have families and putting them at risk as well, so, until we know more information like was it a one-off random or is it an organization. If it is an organization, then perhaps. But I think he needs more [information].”
