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Vice President Vance’s Refugee Vetting Concerns Resurface After National Guard Shooting
Vice President JD Vance’s longstanding concerns about the U.S. refugee vetting process have gained renewed attention following the shooting of two National Guard troops in Washington on Wednesday. The incident has thrust the Trump administration’s immigration policies into the spotlight and intensified debate over refugee screening procedures.
Law enforcement officials have identified the shooting suspect as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national who entered the United States legally in 2021 under the Biden administration’s Operation Allies Welcome program. The initiative was designed to resettle Afghan refugees following the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan.
U.S. Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, died Thursday from injuries sustained in the shooting, while U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe remains in critical condition, according to U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro.
Fox News Digital reported that Lakanwal had previously partnered with the U.S. government, including the CIA, as a member of a partner force in Afghanistan before coming to America.
The shooting has prompted a review of Vance’s previous statements on refugee vetting, dating back to 2021. In a social media video response to then-Senator Ben Sasse, who advocated for assisting Afghan refugees, Vance cautioned about proper screening.
“Yes, let’s help the Afghans that helped us, but let’s ensure that we’re properly vetting them, so that we don’t get a bunch of people who believe they should blow themselves up at a mall because somebody looked at their wife the wrong way,” said Vance, a Marine Corps veteran.
At the time, Vance claimed a Pew Research Center survey found that four in ten Afghans believe suicide bombing is justified to protect Islam. While Fox News Digital could not independently confirm the poll’s existence, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, an American state-funded media organization, reported similar statistics in 2013.
It’s worth noting that Afghanistan’s top religious leaders who comprise the Afghan Ulema Council have previously issued Islamic rulings banning suicide attacks, stating such actions contradict Islamic teachings.
More recently, in a January interview with CBS’s Margaret Brennan, Vance reiterated his concerns, stating, “We have vetting problems with a lot of these refugee programs. We absolutely cannot unleash thousands of unvetted people into our country.”
During that interview, Vance specifically referenced an Afghan national, Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, who had been charged with planning a terrorist attack around the 2024 U.S. election. Tawhedi later pleaded guilty to terrorism-related charges in June. Court documents showed that Tawhedi and another Afghan national, Abdullah Haji Zada, purchased weapons and ammunition from undercover FBI agents with the intent to conduct a mass casualty attack within the United States. Zada was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison earlier this month.
Following Wednesday’s shooting, Vance referenced his 2021 remarks and signaled that new measures to strengthen the refugee vetting process would be forthcoming.
“I remember back in 2021 criticizing the Biden policy of opening the floodgate to unvetted Afghan refugees,” Vance said Wednesday. “Friends sent me messages calling me a racist. It was a clarifying moment.”
He added, “Many of our voters will demand not just words, but action, and this is an entirely appropriate response. We will first bring the shooter to justice, and then we must redouble our efforts to deport people with no right to be in our country.”
In response to the shooting, President Donald Trump announced on social media Thursday that he would “permanently pause migration from all Third World Countries.” Additionally, Joseph Edlow, head of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, stated that following Trump’s orders, he has “directed a full scale, rigorous reexamination of every Green Card for every alien from every country of concern.”
The White House has not provided further details regarding which countries would be affected by this policy change, referring media inquiries to Trump’s social media statement.
The incident highlights the ongoing tension between national security concerns and humanitarian obligations in America’s immigration policies, particularly regarding refugees from conflict zones where the U.S. has been militarily engaged.
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11 Comments
The shooting is a sobering reminder that no system is perfect. While we should continue to improve refugee screening, we must also avoid demonizing all refugees due to the actions of a few.
The shooting highlights the need for a thorough review of the refugee resettlement program and its procedures. We must ensure proper vetting to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.
Absolutely. While the vast majority of refugees are law-abiding, any gaps in the vetting process pose a serious risk that cannot be ignored. Public safety should be the primary concern.
This is a complex and sensitive issue that requires a balanced approach. We need to find ways to uphold our humanitarian values while also ensuring the safety and security of our communities.
Well said. Maintaining public trust in the refugee resettlement program will be crucial going forward. Improving transparency and communication around the vetting process could help address concerns.
It’s tragic that this incident has led to the loss of a young service member’s life. My condolences go out to the victim’s family and loved ones. We must learn from this tragedy to strengthen our security measures.
While this is a troubling event, we should avoid rushing to judgement or making sweeping generalizations. A measured, fact-based approach is needed to address the underlying issues and prevent future incidents.
This incident underscores the importance of continuous evaluation and refinement of our immigration and refugee policies. We must strive for solutions that uphold both our values and our national security.
Agreed. It’s a delicate balance, but one that is crucial to get right. Striking the right balance between compassion and caution will be key to maintaining public trust and ensuring the safety of all.
This is a concerning incident that raises valid questions about the refugee vetting process. While we should remain compassionate, the safety of our citizens and military personnel must be the top priority.
Agreed. Rigorous security screening is crucial when admitting refugees, especially given the volatile situation in Afghanistan. We need to strike the right balance between compassion and national security.