President Donald Trump has announced that the White House is actively considering the deportation of the family belonging to the Afghan migrant accused of a shooting that targeted National Guardsmen in Washington DC.
A Tragic Attack and its Aftermath
The revelation came as the President confirmed the death of 20-year-old West Virginia National Guard soldier Sarah Beckstrom. She tragically passed away days after the Wednesday afternoon shooting. The other soldier involved, 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe, remains in a critical condition in hospital.
Suspect's Background and Investigation
The alleged gunman has been identified as 29-year-old Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal. He was brought to the United States in 2021 as part of the Biden administration's Operation Allies Welcome following the withdrawal from Afghanistan. This programme facilitated temporary visas for Afghans who had assisted US forces.
Lakanwal had settled in Bellingham, Washington, with his wife and at least five children. Their home was one of two properties raided by FBI agents on Thursday as part of what FBI Director Kash Patel described as a 'coast-to-coast' investigation.
Officials stated that Lakanwal drove across the country from his Washington home to DC before opening fire on the troops with a .357 revolver.
Political Fallout and CIA Links
The case has ignited significant political controversy. CIA Director John Ratcliffe revealed that Lakanwal had direct links to the CIA from his previous work alongside US Special Forces in Kandahar, Afghanistan, though this involvement ended after the evacuation.
Both President Trump and Director Ratcliffe heavily criticised the previous administration's handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal, labelling the actions 'disastrous' and 'catastrophic failures'. Ratcliffe asserted that the suspect, 'and so many others - should have never been allowed to come here'.
When questioned about the potential deportation of Lakanwal's family, President Trump stated, 'We’re looking at that right now... We’re looking at the whole situation with family. It’s a tragic situation.'
