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The suspect in Wednesday’s shooting of two National Guard members near the White House entered the United States in 2021 through a Biden administration program designed to resettle Afghan allies, according to multiple Department of Homeland Security and FBI sources.
Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national, came to America under humanitarian parole via Operation Allies Welcome, a program established following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. The two guardsmen who were shot remain in critical condition with head wounds in what officials are investigating as a possible act of international terrorism.
The shooting occurred just blocks from the White House in what authorities have described as a “targeted” attack. Both victims are members of the West Virginia National Guard.
The Biden administration launched Operation Allies Welcome in 2021 as Taliban forces rapidly took control of Afghanistan during the chaotic U.S. withdrawal. The program aimed to quickly process and resettle Afghans who had assisted American forces, along with others deemed vulnerable under Taliban rule.
During a September 2021 press conference, then-Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas promised that Afghan evacuees would be “swiftly and safely” resettled in the United States. He emphasized that a robust biometric screening and vetting process was in place, spanning both the U.S. and transit countries, to ensure proper screening of all individuals entering the country.
At that time, Mayorkas confirmed that some individuals had been flagged with “derogatory information” during the vetting process and denied entry, though he did not specify how many. The Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center reported that nearly 800 aircraft evacuated thousands of people from Afghanistan during just a 17-day period in August 2021.
Lakanwal reportedly entered the U.S. in September 2021, at the height of the resettlement effort. His permission to remain in the country was granted under Operation Allies Welcome, sources said.
President Donald Trump addressed the shooting during comments Wednesday night, calling Biden “a disastrous president” and criticizing the former administration’s handling of Afghan evacuees.
“Nobody knew who was coming in, nobody knew anything about it,” Trump said about the Afghan evacuation process. He called for the government to “reexamine every single alien who has entered our country under Biden,” describing the situation as “the single greatest national security threat facing our nation.”
The scale of the 2021 Afghan evacuation was enormous. Secretary Mayorkas noted that approximately 120,000 people had been evacuated from Afghanistan since the beginning of the withdrawal. The operation involved significant resources, with Mayorkas stating that 400 U.S. Customs and Border Patrol employees and Transportation Security Administration staff were brought in to assist.
Part of the resettlement strategy included moving refugees from military bases designated by the Pentagon to house and vet refugees before they entered the United States. Critics at the time raised concerns about the rushed nature of the evacuation and potential security risks.
Former President Biden responded to the shooting before details about the suspect’s background became public. “Jill and I are heartbroken that two members of the National Guard were shot outside the White House,” Biden posted on social media. “Violence of any kind is unacceptable, and we must all stand united against it. We are praying for the service members and their families.”
The shooting has reignited debate over immigration policies and the vetting of those entering the United States through humanitarian programs. Law enforcement officials continue to investigate the motive behind the attack, which occurred in a high-security area of the nation’s capital.
The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Lakanwal’s entry to the United States through the Biden-era program. Attempts to reach former DHS Secretary Mayorkas were also unsuccessful.
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15 Comments
The shooting near the White House is deeply concerning. While the details are still emerging, it’s clear the Afghan resettlement program requires a thorough review to ensure proper security measures are in place. We cannot afford any lapses that put innocent lives at risk.
This is a sobering reminder that national security cannot be compromised, even in the name of compassion. While I understand the desire to help vulnerable Afghans, the safety of American citizens has to be the top priority. Rigorous vetting is an absolute necessity.
Agreed. The administration needs to take a hard look at the resettlement program and make sure the proper safeguards are in place before admitting any more individuals.
I’m curious to learn more about how this individual slipped through the cracks of the resettlement program. Was it a failure in the vetting process, or are there systemic issues that need to be addressed? Transparency and accountability will be key to restoring public confidence.
Good point. The administration owes the public a full explanation of what happened and what steps are being taken to prevent similar security breaches in the future.
The shooting near the White House is a troubling development that raises serious questions about the Afghan resettlement program. While I understand the desire to help vulnerable Afghans, the vetting process clearly needs to be strengthened to prevent security lapses that put innocent lives at risk.
This is a concerning development that raises serious questions about the vetting process for the Afghan resettlement program. While supporting vulnerable Afghans is important, national security must be the top priority. I hope the authorities conduct a thorough investigation to understand how this happened and prevent future incidents.
I agree, the safety of American citizens has to come first. Hopefully the program can be improved to balance compassion and security.
Very troubling news. I’m sympathetic to the resettlement effort, but it’s clear the vetting procedures need to be strengthened to ensure public safety. We can’t afford lapses that put innocent people at risk, especially so close to the White House.
Absolutely. This incident highlights the critical importance of thorough background checks and monitoring for anyone entering the country, no matter the circumstances.
The shooting near the White House is a stark reminder that the Afghan resettlement program needs to be scrutinized more closely. While compassion is important, we cannot compromise on public safety. Thorough vetting and ongoing monitoring of individuals admitted to the country are critical.
This is a tragic and alarming incident that will undoubtedly fuel criticism of the Afghan resettlement program. While the administration’s intent to help vulnerable Afghans is understandable, national security must be the top priority. Robust vetting procedures are essential to prevent future breaches.
Exactly. The public deserves a full accounting of what went wrong and how the program will be strengthened to prevent similar security failures.
This is a deeply concerning incident that highlights the need for the administration to re-evaluate the Afghan resettlement program. While supporting vulnerable Afghans is a worthy goal, the safety of American citizens must be the top priority. Robust security measures are essential to prevent future breaches.
Well said. The administration needs to take a hard look at the program and make any necessary changes to ensure proper safeguards are in place.