Officials criticize Biden's vetting process, yet Afghan shooting suspect was granted asylum during Trump's administration

By Ted Hesson, Tim Reid, and Jana Winter

WASHINGTON (Reuters) The Trump administration on Thursday attributed the entry of an Afghan immigrant suspected of shooting two National Guard members in Washington, D.C., to vetting lapses during the Biden administration. However, a U.S. government file reviewed by Reuters shows that the alleged shooter was granted asylum earlier this year under President Donald Trump.

Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan citizen, arrived in the United States on September 8, 2021, through Operation Allies Welcome. This resettlement initiative was established by then-President Joe Biden following the U.S. militarys withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021, which triggered the rapid collapse of the Afghan government and the Taliban takeover.

FBI Director Kash Patel and Jeanine Pirro, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia and both Trump appointees, stated during a press briefing that the Biden administration had failed to conduct sufficient background checks on Lakanwal before his entry in 2021. No evidence was provided to substantiate these claims.

Patel claimed that Lakanwal, who had collaborated with U.S. government forces during the Afghanistan conflict, was admitted without proper vetting because the prior administration allowed thousands of individuals into the country without conducting background checks.

The program admitted more than 70,000 Afghan nationals, according to a congressional report, and was designed to include vetting by U.S. counter-terrorism and intelligence agencies. Critics argued that the rapid scale of the evacuations resulted in ineffective screening procedures.

Under Operation Allies Welcome, Afghans entering the U.S. were initially granted a two-year parole, allowing them to live and work legally while applying for more permanent status. Government records indicate Lakanwal applied for asylum in December 2024 and was approved on April 23 of this year, three months after Trump resumed office. Officials stated he had no known criminal record.

The files reviewed by Reuters noted that Lakanwal had already been vetted due to his collaboration with U.S. government partners during the war in Afghanistan, and no disqualifying information was found.

Abigail Jackson, a White House spokesperson, stated: This individual would not have been here if not for Bidens policies, which allowed numerous inadequately vetted individuals to enter the country.

CIA Director John Ratcliffe confirmed Lakanwals prior work with CIA-supported local units in Afghanistan, emphasizing that the Biden administration justified his entry because of that service, which concluded shortly after the chaotic evacuation.

The shooting incident has significant political implications, reinforcing Trumps stance on immigration. He has emphasized strict oversight of both legal and illegal immigration, framing this case as justification for more thorough vetting of immigrants.

In a White House video message, Trump labeled Lakanwal an animal and described the shooting as an act of terror. He called for a review of all Afghan nationals admitted under Biden and suspended all immigration applications by Afghan nationals. The Department of Homeland Security indicated that the review would include asylum cases and extend to those who worked with the CIA.

The attack has reignited criticism of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, which led to the rapid fall of the Afghan government. The evacuation raised concerns among Republicans that potential threats could enter the United States undetected.

(Reporting by Tim Reid and Ted Hesson; additional reporting by Erin Banco and Jana Winter; editing by Ross Colvin and Nia Williams)

Analysis: Afghan Resettlement and the Political Fallout

The recent shooting in Washington, D.C., involving Rahmanullah Lakanwal, highlights the complexities of U.S. Afghan resettlement programs. While the Trump administration attributes his entry to vetting lapses during the Biden administration, government records show that Lakanwal was granted asylum in April 2025, under the Trump administration, after a prior vetting process linked to his collaboration with U.S. forces in Afghanistan.

Operation Allies Welcome admitted over 70,000 Afghan nationals, with vetting conducted by counter-terrorism and intelligence agencies. Lakanwal’s case indicates that the process identified no disqualifying information, and he had no criminal record prior to the incident. This underlines the challenges of balancing rapid humanitarian evacuations with thorough security screenings.

The political response has been immediate and polarized. Former President Trump has framed the attack as evidence of inadequate immigration controls, while the White House maintains that the program aimed to protect those who assisted U.S. operations in Afghanistan. This incident underscores ongoing debates over the security and oversight of large-scale resettlement initiatives.

Sources:

• Officials criticize Biden vetting, but Afghan shooting suspect was granted asylum under Trump