Washington D.C. Shooting Sparks Political Row Over Vetting
US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has asserted that the Afghan national suspected of shooting two National Guard members in Washington D.C. was radicalised on American soil, while placing blame squarely on the Biden administration's refugee vetting procedures. The political fallout from the attack one week ago continues to escalate, with former President Donald Trump moving to suspend asylum applications for Afghan nationals.
Attack Details and Political Fallout
The shooting last weekend sent shockwaves through the nation's capital, leaving one Guardsman in critical condition and claiming the life of 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom. Police identified the suspect as 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national who previously worked with the CIA against the Taliban.
During appearances on ABC's This Week and NBC's Meet the Press this Sunday, Secretary Noem repeatedly criticised the previous administration's handling of Lakanwal's case. He was brought into the country by the Biden administration through Operation Allies Welcome, Noem stated, arguing that proper vetting was not conducted upon his entry in 2021.
Radicalisation Claims and Investigation
Noem made the significant claim that investigators believe Lakanwal may have been radicalised within his local community after arriving in the United States, though she provided no immediate evidence to support this assertion. We believe he could have been radicalised in his home community and in his home state, the Secretary told ABC News.
She further noted on NBC that investigators have had some participation from Lakanwal's family members as they probe this angle. The Secretary maintained that the vetting process should have occurred when Lakanwal initially entered the country under Biden-era programmes, rather than when his asylum application was approved earlier in 2025.
Policy Response and Broader Implications
In response to the tragedy, the Trump administration has ordered an immediate halt to refugee and asylum applications for Afghan nationals. This dramatic policy shift affects tens of thousands of individuals, with DHS statistics indicating approximately 200,000 Afghans were resettled in the United States over four years through Operations Allies Welcome and Enduring Welcome.
Trump amplified this hardline stance in a Thanksgiving Day post to Truth Social, threatening to permanently pause migration from all Third World Countries and remove anyone who is not a net asset to the United States. This development throws the legal status of thousands of Afghan allies into uncertainty, creating a major new front in America's ongoing immigration debate.
