Afghan Refugee Shooting Incident Sparks Debate on Vetting Process

The shooting of two National Guard personnel in downtown Washington, D.C., allegedly by Afghan refugee Rahmanullah Lakanwal, has reignited discussions surrounding the vetting process for Afghan asylum seekers. This incident, which occurred in a busy city area, has raised questions about the efficacy of a program initiated by the Biden administration aimed at resettling Afghans who had collaborated with U.S. forces during the 20-year conflict in Afghanistan.

In 2021, the U.S. government facilitated the resettlement of approximately 76,000 Afghan refugees, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Officials have identified Lakanwal as one of approximately 3,300 refugees who received a “special immigrant visa,” which expedited his entry due to his employment with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and other U.S. agencies. Lakanwal arrived in the U.S. in 2021 and subsequently applied for asylum in 2024. He was granted asylum in April 2025 during the administration of Donald Trump.

During a news conference, FBI Director Kash Patel claimed that the Biden administration conducted “absolutely zero vetting” of refugees. However, this assertion has been challenged. Questions linger regarding the thoroughness of the vetting process for Lakanwal during both his initial entry in 2021 and the asylum approval in 2025. CIA Director John Ratcliffe indicated that Lakanwal’s involvement with the CIA would have necessitated vetting by the agency at that time. It is also likely that he underwent further scrutiny before being granted asylum this year.

According to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, there have been 8,000 refugees admitted since Trump took office, and both Noem and Patel suggested during congressional hearings that the administration meticulously examined all cases. Patel assured the Senate Judiciary Committee in September that databases were reviewed to prevent known or suspected terrorists from entering the U.S.

Alejandro Mayorkas, who served as Secretary of Homeland Security under Biden, stated that all Afghan evacuees underwent a rigorous screening process before entering the U.S. He emphasized that this process involved biometric and biographic evaluations conducted by intelligence, law enforcement, and counterterrorism professionals from various federal agencies.

The urgency of the evacuation efforts following the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan led to concerns about the comprehensiveness of the vetting procedures. The abrupt collapse of the Kabul government and the subsequent takeover by the Taliban added to the complexity of resettling Afghan refugees. Reports indicate that the chaotic situation in Doha, Qatar, where many evacuees were initially taken, resulted in a humanitarian crisis marked by overcrowding and incomplete flight manifests.

While some conservatives have voiced concerns about the safety of resettling large numbers of Afghans, advocacy groups have defended the vetting process. AfghanEvac, an organization dedicated to assisting Afghan refugees, asserted that the immigrants undergo extensive security checks, making them among the most scrutinized groups in the U.S. “This individual’s isolated and violent act should not be used as an excuse to define or diminish an entire community,” stated Shawn VanDiver, President of AfghanEvac.

As investigations continue into the shooting incident and the suspect’s background, the discourse surrounding the vetting of refugees remains a critical issue, reflecting broader concerns about national security and humanitarian obligations.