Trump says asylum freeze could last ‘long time’ after Guard shooting

President Donald Trump said Sunday it could take “a long time” for his administration to halt asylum proceedings after a deadly attack on the National Guard earlier this week and raised the possibility of revoking the citizenship of some naturalized immigrants with criminal histories.

While the administration has framed the asylum-seeker freeze as an immediate response to Wednesday’s shooting, the president’s comments to reporters aboard Air Force One suggest the restrictions could evolve into a more long-term approach.

President Trump attributed the pause to a firmer stance on 19 countries he described as “crime-ridden” and promised to “absolutely” strip citizenship of immigrants convicted of crimes if it was within his presidential authority.

“We have enough problems. We don’t want these people,” said Trump, adding that there was no time limit on the moratorium.

TRUMP HIGHLIGHTED THE FEDERAL ACT THAT GIVES THE PRESIDENT AUTHORITY TO STOP IMMIGRATION WHEN PRESSURE RISES.

“We have criminals who come to our country and become naturalized citizens,” Trump said, adding, “If I have the power to do this, I’m not sure I would do it, but if I did, I would lose my citizenship. Absolutely.”

Trump explained his recent use of the term “reverse immigration” by saying it means removing people who are already in the United States.

“Get the people out of our country, get them out of here,” Trump said.

SAFETY FORCES ARE INTERVENING IN CASE OF 2 NATIONAL GUARD MEMBERS SHOT NEAR THE WHITE HOUSE

Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national, is accused of shooting two members of the West Virginia National Guard on Wednesday just blocks from the White House.

National Guard members Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and Andrew Wolfe, 24, were shot in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. Beckstrom died in the hospital on Thursday. (United States Attorney for the District of Columbia/Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

US Army Spc. While 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom was killed, her colleague, U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, remains in critical condition. Both Guard members were deployed to D.C. as part of Trump’s crime-fighting mission to federalize D.C. police. Trump said he invited family members of both Guard members to the White House.

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“I said, ‘When you’re ready, because this is a tough thing, come to the White House. We’ll honor Sarah,'” Trump told reporters. “And Andrew the same way, whether he gets better or not.”

Two National Guard soldiers were shot a few blocks from the White House in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. The alleged gunman, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, was charged with first-degree murder. (AP Photo/Anthony Peltier; provided by Department of Justice)

Lakanwal faces one count of first-degree murder and two counts of assault with intent to kill in the shooting; These accusations led the Trump administration to halt all asylum decisions and stop issuing visas to people traveling with Afghan passports.