Understanding 'Operation Allies Welcome,' the program that welcomed Afghans into the US

A recent shooting near the White House has brought renewed attention to the Biden-era Operation Allies Welcome, as 29-year-old Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal faces a first-degree murder charge. Lakanwal was arrested Wednesday after gunfire erupted just blocks from the White House.

Both the suspect and two U.S. service members were injured: Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24. Beckstrom later died from her injuries. Lakanwal is also charged with multiple firearm offenses, including possession during a violent crime and assault with intent to kill while armed.

The CIA confirmed Lakanwal previously assisted U.S. forces in Afghanistan during the 20-year conflict. He left Afghanistan in 2021 under Operation Allies Welcome, a program initiated by former President Biden to evacuate Afghans who had supported U.S. troops during the war, following the military withdrawal and Taliban takeover.

At the time, former Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas set up a Unified Coordination Group (UCG) to manage resettlement efforts. DHS explained that refugees were vetted through extensive biometric and biographic screenings conducted by intelligence, law enforcement, and counterterrorism agencies, including the FBI and National Counterterrorism Center, before entering the U.S. Anyone failing security checks was denied boarding.

Biden stated in 2021 that evacuees were first flown to U.S. military bases and transit centers globally for thorough screening before arriving in the country. Mayorkas emphasized the program included U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, Afghan allies, Special Immigrant Visa holders, journalists, and vulnerable women and children. We have a moral imperative to protect them and ensure national security, he said.

In September 2021, Mayorkas pledged to welcome U.S. citizens in Afghanistan and Afghans who assisted the military. Two years later, Biden allowed refugees to extend their temporary protected status (TPS), following Congresss failure to pass legislation providing a citizenship pathway for approximately 80,000 Afghans.

Republican critics, including former President Trump, condemned the withdrawal and refugee program, citing reports that it was rushed and contributed to U.S. military casualties. Trump later lifted deportation protections for Afghans, arguing that the countrys conditions no longer justified them.

Following Wednesdays shooting, immigration from Afghanistan was paused indefinitely while USCIS reviews security and vetting procedures. Trump called for a full review of Afghan entrants under Operation Allies Welcome, and the State Department halted visas from the country. USCIS is also reexamining green cards from 19 other nations as a security measure.

Author: Sophia Brooks