The George W. Bush Institute is pushing back against sweeping immigration restrictions following the fatal Thanksgiving-week shooting of National Guard Spc. Sarah Beckstrom in Washington, DC. The suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national who entered the U.S. in 2021 under Operation Allies Welcome, has been charged in the ambush-style attack that also left Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe critically wounded.
In the aftermath, immigration authorities announced an indefinite pause on immigration processing from 19 countries, including Afghanistan, citing national security concerns. But the Bush Institute argues the move unfairly punishes thousands of lawful applicants who had no connection to the crime.
In a post on X, the Institute wrote, “The actions of a man charged with a heinous crime have derailed the lawful U.S. immigration applications of people from 18 countries so far, including Afghanistan.” The statement accompanied a policy piece co-authored by Bush Institute directors Natalie Gonnella-Platts and Laura Collins, calling the attack “unconscionable” and a “barbaric” act of terror.
The authors acknowledged the horror of the attack but urged the government not to abandon allies who supported U.S. operations during the war in Afghanistan. “Going back on our word to Afghans who helped us is contrary to our values as Americans,” they wrote, noting that many Afghan nationals underwent years of extensive vetting and now face halted asylum decisions, canceled naturalization ceremonies, and frozen visa processing.
The article also offered a broader defense of America’s history as a refuge for the oppressed. “One of America’s unique strengths is how often in our history we have been a refuge for the poor and oppressed,” the authors stated, warning that reactionary policy could cause lasting damage.
The piece painted a dire picture of life under Taliban rule, describing women being erased from public life and families forced to flee the country for a second time. It emphasized that many displaced Afghans continue resisting extremism, preserving their cultural heritage, and advocating for justice—even while in exile.
Criticism of the Bush Institute’s stance came swiftly from former Trump administration official Stephen Miller, who blasted the statement as dangerous. “As Americans get ready to celebrate Christmas, the George W. Bush Presidential Center is very earnestly posting about the urgent need for unfettered migration from the most dangerous nations on planet earth,” Miller posted on X. “You are not just importing individuals. You are importing societies.”
Miller called the belief that migrants can be fully separated from the conditions of their homeland “the great lie of mass migration,” suggesting the risks aren’t limited to individual actions but systemic societal shifts.
Still, the Bush Institute argues that collective punishment is both immoral and ineffective. “The suspect will be held accountable for his crimes,” the article states. “But this man is responsible for his actions, not all foreign-born people.” They warn against letting fear override principles and call for a balanced investigation into what went wrong—without upending the lives of thousands who followed the rules.
The post Bush Institute Defends Afghan Immigrants After DC Guard Shooting, Calls Mass Pause “Contrary to American Values” appeared first on Real News Now.
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