President Donald Trumpsays he wants to"permanently pause migration" from poorer nationsand is promising to seek to expel millions of immigrants from the United States by revoking their legal status. He is blaming immigrants for problems from crime to housing shortages as part of "social dysfunction" in America and demanding "REVERSE MIGRATION."
His most severe social media post against immigration since returning to the Oval Office in January came after two National Guard members wereshot while patrolling the streets of the nation's capitalunder his orders.One died, and the other is in critical condition.
Since the shooting not far from the White House, administration officials have pledged to reexamine millions of legal immigrants, building on a 10-month campaign to reduce the immigrant population. In a lengthy social media post late Thursday, the Republican president asserted that millions of people born outside the U.S. and now living in the country bore a large share of the blame for America's societal ills.
Here's the latest:
Suspect in shooting of National Guard members now facing a first-degree murder charge
Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, announced Friday that charges against a man who authorities sayshot two National Guard membershave been upgraded to first-degree murder.
The announcement comes after the death of one of the soldiers.
Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, were hospitalized in critical condition after Wednesday afternoon's shooting and Trump announced Thursday evening that Beckstrom had died.
As of Thursday morning, Rahmanullah Lakanwal faced charges of assault with intent to kill while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, but Pirro suggested that the charges would be upgraded to first-degree murder if the victims did not survive.
Pirro said that Lakanwal drove across the country to launch an "ambush-style" attack with a .357 Smith & Wesson revolver. He initially faced charges of assault with intent to kill while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. Pirro said that "it's too soon to say" what the suspect's motives were.
Refugee groups worry about backlash after shooting of National Guard soldiers in DC
People who work with refugees are worried that those who fled dangerous situations to start again in America will face backlash after authorities say an Afghan national shot two National Guard soldiers this week, killing one of them.
Many Afghans living in the U.S. are afraid to leave their houses, fearing they'll be swept up by immigration officials or attacked with hate speech, said Shawn VanDiver, president of the San Diego-based group #AfghanEvac, a group that helps resettle Afghans who assisted the U.S. during the two-decade war.
"They're terrified. It's insane," VanDiver told The Associated Press Thursday. "People are acting xenophobic because of one deranged man. He doesn't represent all Afghans. He represents himself."
▶ Read aboutwhat groups are saying in the shooting's aftermath
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— Trump saysone of the two West Virginia National Guard members shotby Afghan national has died
— Whatwe do and don't knowabout the shooting of 2 National Guard members in DC
— Trump criticizes the program thatbrought Afghan refugees to the U.S.who fought the Taliban — Refugee groups worry aboutbacklash after shootingof National Guard soldiers in DC — A look at the National Guard presencesince Trump sent troops to Washington in August— 2 Virginia brothersallegedly plotted to kill ICE agents, Homeland Security says — Court transcripts show Border Patrol official Greg Bovinododging questions about use of force
— Federal judge expands access to bond hearingsfor detained immigrants nationwide
