A deadly shooting targeting National Guard members in Washington DC has triggered immediate immigration policy changes by the Trump administration. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has suspended all Afghan immigration applications pending comprehensive review of security protocols after identifying the suspect as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national who entered through the Biden-era Operation Allies Welcome (OAW) program.
Republican officials assert the suspect entered without proper vetting, though documentation indicates he underwent the Special Immigrant Visa process and was granted asylum under the current administration. The political response has been sharply divided: Trump administration officials characterize OAW as permitting ‘unvetted criminals’ while immigration advocates note the program resettled over 190,000 Afghans with this being the first major security incident.
Government audits reveal mixed results regarding OAW’s vetting effectiveness. A 2022 Office of Inspector General report found incomplete documentation and admitted some evacuees without full vetting, while a more recent review commended the FBI’s handling of security risks. The suspect had previously worked with CIA operations in Afghanistan and underwent military vetting procedures before his U.S. entry.
The tragedy has intensified debate about humanitarian protection versus national security, with the administration implementing immediate restrictions while critics argue the response unfairly penalizes thousands of successfully resettled Afghan allies.