Kristi Noem pushes for 'full travel ban' on nations ‘flooding’ US with immigrants after DC shooting

WASHINGTON, DC: Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has called for a sweeping travel ban on all countries she says are sending dangerous immigrants into the United States.

Her proposal comes in the wake of a shooting in Washington, DC, involving an immigrant suspect.

Kristi Noem pushes for nationwide travel ban after DC shooting

Noem announced Monday that following a meeting with President Donald Trump, she is recommending a “full travel ban” on “every country that’s been flooding our nation with killers, leeches, and entitlement junkies.”

She criticized specific groups of immigrants as posing risks to public safety and claimed they were using resources intended for Americans.

She emphasized her point by saying, "Our forefathers built this nation on blood, sweat, and the unyielding love of freedom, not for foreign invaders to slaughter our heroes, suck dry our hard-earned tax dollars, or snatch the benefits owed to AMERICANS." She concluded her remarks with a sharply worded declaration: "WE DON'T WANT THEM. NOT ONE."

Last week, the director of Citizenship and Immigration Services stated that the agency had paused all asylum rulings "until we can ensure that every alien is vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible."

DC shooting suspect’s refugee entry raises vetting questions

The suspect in the DC shooting has been identified as 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal.

He reportedly entered the United States legally in 2021 under the refugee resettlement initiative known as 'Operation Allies Welcome,' which evacuated and resettled Afghan refugees during the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan.

Appearing on NBC’s 'Meet the Press' and ABC’s 'This Week,' Noem said investigators believe the accused gunman was already living in Washington state when he adopted extremist views. “We believe he was radicalized since he's been here in this country.”

 She added that investigators suspect his influences were tied to people around him, stating, “We do believe it was through connections in his home community and state, and we're going to continue to talk to those who interacted with him, who were his family members.”

The Trump administration has asserted that the attack resulted from inadequate vetting during the Biden era. Officials say Lakanwal previously served in a CIA-backed unit in Afghanistan.

Reports noted that while speaking with the press on Air Force One on November 30, Trump indicated that his administration had the authority to completely stop processing asylum requests.

He said, “No time limit, but it could be a long time, We have enough problems. We don't want those people.”