• Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan refugee, allegedly shot two National Guard members in Washington, D.C.
• The suspect was granted asylum under Trump administration despite concerns over vetting.
• Biden administration's evacuation program for Afghans is facing scrutiny following the incident.

In a disturbing incident in Washington, D.C., an Afghan refugee named Rahmanullah Lakanwal is accused of shooting two National Guard members, reigniting a national debate on the vetting procedures used for Afghan immigrants brought to the United States. Lakanwal entered the country under the Operation Allies Welcome program, which permitted over 76,000 Afghan refugees to resettle in the U.S. in 2021, during President Biden's administration. However, he was ultimately granted asylum in April 2025, under President Trump, leading to significant political backlash, particularly from Trump officials who criticized Biden-era vetting failures, claiming inadequate background checks were performed on Lakanwal prior to his entry, though they provided no supporting evidence for these allegations.

FBI Director Kash Patel and U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, Jeanine Pirro, both Trump appointees, asserted that the Biden administration's vetting for refugees was fundamentally flawed. They claimed that the urgency to evacuate Afghans amid the chaos following the U.S. withdrawal resulted in inadequate scrutiny, allowing individuals like Lakanwal to enter the country. However, CIA Director John Ratcliffe countered this narrative by highlighting that Lakanwal likely underwent vetting due to his affiliation with U.S. intelligence during the war in Afghanistan. Furthermore, it is reported that he was initially one of approximately 3,300 refugees who were granted a special immigrant visa expedited by his employment with U.S. agencies.

The incident has sparked renewed criticisms of the Biden administration's resettlement program, which was designed to protect Afghans who collaborated with U.S. forces and were at risk from the Taliban. While supporters of the program argue that it provided a moral imperative to protect these individuals, some critics have suggested that the rushed nature of the evacuations could compromise security. Advocacy groups like AfghanEvac assert that the vetting process is among the most rigorous for any immigrant population in the U.S., emphasizing that no evidence of systemic failure in the vetting procedures exists despite the isolated violent act of Lakanwal.

As discussions unfold surrounding the incident, it is influencing the broader political narrative, particularly for Trump, who has historically campaigned on stricter immigration policies. He has referred to Lakanwal's actions as an "act of terror" and has called for a "re-examination" of Afghan nationals who arrived in the U.S. during the Biden administration. This incident has immense implications, potentially affecting opinions on immigration policies and their execution in the U.S., as it raises public concerns about national security and the vetting of refugees.