The shooting of two National Guard soldiers in Washington, D.C., by Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal has ignited a national debate on immigration policy and federal vetting processes. The Trump administration has used the incident to justify an immigration crackdown, halting visa processing for Afghan nationals. Lakanwal, who arrived in the U.S. in September 2021 through “Operation Allies Welcome,” applied for asylum in December 2024, with concerns raised about the adequacy of his vetting under both administrations. Reports indicate that Lakanwal’s mental health declined over the years, leading to questions about missed red flags in his case.
