(Crankers) Only hours after the shooting of two National Guard members that happened in Washington, D.C., President Donald Trump called for a systematic re-evaluation of every Afghan citizen who entered the U.S. during the Biden administration. It has been alleged that this came after the release of information that an Afghan national committed the shooting.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said on X that the suspect entered the U.S. in September 2021 under Operation Allies Welcome, a Biden-era program for Afghans who assisted U.S. forces. Trump labeled the shooting an “act of terror” and demanded a review of every Afghan who entered under Biden.
Shortly after his remarks, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced it was halting all immigration processing for Afghan nationals pending a review of vetting procedures.
The two National Guard members from West Virginia were shot around 2:15 p.m. and remained in critical condition, but one of them has died. The suspect was also shot and hospitalized. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said it appeared to be a targeted attack.
Law enforcement officials identified the suspect as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, of Bellingham, Washington. A relative said Lakanwal served in the Afghan Army for 10 years alongside U.S. Special Forces and came to the U.S. after the Taliban takeover in 2021. He was granted asylum this year.
A Trump administration memo called for a review and re-interview of all refugees admitted from January 20, 2021, to February 20, 2025, potentially affecting about 200,000 people. The memo said the Biden administration emphasized speed over screening.
More than 80,000 Afghan refugees were resettled in the U.S. around the 2021 withdrawal, while over 152,000 Special Immigrant Visa applicants remained in Afghanistan as of March 2023.
Trump ended temporary protections and halted the resettlement of thousands of Afghan refugees who still remain stranded abroad. The argument was that the conditions are now better, and a reevaluation of the initial plan needs to take place. The counterargument points out that there are many Afghans who worked with U.S. forces, thus facing serious risk whilst under Taliban rule, requiring continued protection and relocation as soon as possible.
