Shooting Incident Involving Afghan Resettlement Program

On November 27, 2025, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a suspect linked to a shooting that injured two National Guard members near the White House, was identified as a participant in Operation Allies Welcome, a program initiated by former President Joe Biden to resettle Afghan nationals following the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan. Lakanwal arrived in the United States on September 8, 2021, and applied for asylum in 2024, which was granted under the Trump administration.

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Operation Allies Welcome was launched in August 2021 to provide refuge for vulnerable Afghans after the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan. The program allowed many Afghans to enter the U.S. temporarily, with over 190,000 individuals resettled under this initiative and its successor, Enduring Welcome. Approximately 40% of those admitted were eligible for Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) due to their assistance to U.S. forces during the war. However, the resettlement process has faced challenges, with thousands of Afghans still awaiting entry and many remaining in precarious situations in third countries.

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In the wake of the shooting, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem highlighted Lakanwal's connection to the resettlement program, while former President Donald Trump criticized the Biden administration for allowing what he termed "unknown and unvetted foreigners" into the U.S. Trump called for a thorough review of all Afghan migrants admitted during Biden's presidency. Additionally, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced a halt to processing immigration cases for Afghan immigrants pending a review of security protocols.

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Officials have stated that all Afghans resettled in the U.S. after the fall of Kabul underwent extensive security screenings conducted by intelligence and law enforcement agencies. Many were vetted multiple times before departing Afghanistan and during transit. Despite these measures, the recent incident has reignited debates over the vetting processes for Afghan migrants.

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Shawn VanDiver, president of AfghanEvac, emphasized the importance of not generalizing the actions of one individual to the broader Afghan community. He urged the public to recognize that the vast majority of Afghan families are not associated with violence or terrorism, reinforcing that the motives behind Lakanwal's actions remain unclear.

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While the incident has raised significant concerns regarding the vetting of Afghan migrants, there is a lack of clarity regarding Lakanwal's motives and any potential connections to extremist groups. Furthermore, the ongoing political discourse surrounding Afghan resettlement continues to evolve, with differing perspectives on the implications for U.S. immigration policy.

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• “We’ve got so many people who are here, and one guy doing this does not mean that all Afghan families are troublemakers or terrorists.” — Shawn VanDiver, President of AfghanEvac.

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