White House Security Breach: Afghan Asylum Scandal Rocks Washington
A major security scandal has erupted in Washington DC after revelations that the Trump administration approved the asylum application for an Afghan national suspected of shooting two National Guard soldiers just 800 yards from the White House. The incident has triggered a fierce political blame game and prompted an immediate suspension of Afghan immigration applications.
The Shooting and Investigation
Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, allegedly shot two West Virginian National Guard soldiers using a .357 Smith and Wesson revolver last Wednesday. The victims, Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and Andrew Wolfe, 24, underwent surgery and remain in critical condition. According to intelligence sources, Lakanwal had previously worked with US Special Forces in Afghanistan and had direct links to the CIA, serving as an elite commander in Unit 01 of the former Afghan government's National Directorate of Security.
Law enforcement officials confirmed that fingerprints matched Lakanwal, who initially entered the United States in September 2021 as a refugee under the Biden administration's Operation Allies Welcome following the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. The suspect had been living with his wife and five children in Bellingham, Washington state, near the Canadian border before driving across the country to commit the attack.
Political Fallout and Immigration Suspension
The case took a dramatic turn when CNN revealed that Lakanwal's asylum application was approved in April 2025 by the Trump administration's Department of Homeland Security, overseen by Secretary Kristi Noem. Hours after the shooting, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced it was indefinitely suspending immigration requests for all Afghan nationals pending a comprehensive review of security and vetting protocols.
Former President Donald Trump addressed the nation, squarely blaming President Joe Biden for initially allowing Lakanwal into the country. 'He was flown in by the Biden administration in September 2021, on those infamous flights that everybody was talking about,' Trump stated, calling for a review of 'every single alien from Afghanistan who has entered our country.'
Secretary Noem echoed these sentiments on social media, writing: 'The suspect who shot our brave National Guardsmen is an Afghan national who was one of the many unvetted, mass paroled into the United States...under the Biden Administration.'
Ongoing Investigation and Security Review
The FBI, led by Director Kash Patel, is investigating whether the attack has links to international terrorism, though law enforcement has not yet released a motive. The case has exposed significant gaps in the US immigration vetting system, particularly concerning Afghan nationals who previously worked with American forces.
Days before the shooting, a memo signed by USCIS director Joseph Edlow indicated the Trump administration planned to initiate a comprehensive review and re-interview of all refugees admitted under Biden. The White House and Department of Homeland Security have yet to comment publicly on the developing scandal.
