U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem revealed on Sunday that the Afghan immigrant accused of ambushing National Guard members in Washington, D.C. underwent radicalization after entering the United States, not before his arrival. The suspect, identified as 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, allegedly carried out Wednesday’s shooting just blocks from the White House, resulting in one National Guard member killed and another critically wounded.
Speaking across multiple national news programs including NBC’s ‘Meet the Press’ and ABC’s ‘This Week,’ Secretary Noem indicated investigators believe Lakanwal became radicalized while residing in Washington state. ‘We believe he was radicalized since he’s been here in this country,’ Noem stated, adding that authorities suspect the process occurred ‘through connections in his home community and state.’
The case has ignited political tensions regarding U.S. immigration policy. While President Trump’s administration has criticized the vetting processes during the Biden administration, records show Lakanwal was actually granted asylum in April under the current Trump administration. The suspect entered the United States in 2021 as part of the mass evacuation of Afghans who assisted U.S. forces during the Afghanistan conflict.
In response to the attack, the Trump administration has implemented significant immigration policy changes, including a comprehensive freeze on processing all asylum applications. President Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that his administration could ‘pause asylum admissions into the US for an extended period’ with ‘no time limit.’
Secretary Noem warned that immigration officials would now review every pending asylum claim and consider deportations where warranted. She also issued a stern warning to anyone connected to the shooting: ‘Anyone who has information on this needs to know that we will be coming after you, and we will bring you to justice.’
Investigators continue to seek additional information from family members and associates of Lakanwal, who previously served in a CIA-backed unit in Afghanistan before seeking refuge in the United States.