The Afghan individual responsible for the fatal shooting of a National Guard member in Washington, D.C., was granted asylum during Donald Trump’s presidency, casting a shadow over the former president’s immigration policies.
According to U.S. government documents reviewed by Reuters, the suspect, identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, was named by authorities as the perpetrator of the attack that occurred last Wednesday, just steps from the White House, which resulted in the death of a National Guard member and left another seriously injured.
Lakanwal entered the United States on September 8, 2021, through the Operation Allies Welcome program, launched following the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan and the Taliban’s rise to power.
Reuters’ report indicates that Lakanwal applied for asylum in December 2024, during Joe Biden’s administration, with approval granted on April 23, 2025, three months after Trump resumed the presidency.
U.S. officials confirmed that the Afghan had no known criminal record and had been previously vetted for his work with CIA-backed forces in Afghanistan.
In a press conference, FBI Director Kash Patel and District of Columbia Attorney Jeanine Pirro, both appointed by Trump, blamed Lakanwal’s admission on alleged failures in the background check process during Biden’s administration. However, Reuters noted that no evidence was presented to support this claim.
Trump himself labeled the suspect as an “animal” and described the incident as “an act of terror,” ordering a comprehensive review of all asylum cases processed during the previous administration.
The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that Afghan asylum requests have been suspended while files are under review.
The investigation revealed that Lakanwal’s radicalization occurred after his arrival in the U.S., according to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. She stated that authorities suspect the accused embraced extremist views while living in Washington state, with his family and community under scrutiny.
“We believe he was radicalized here, in this country,” Noem asserted in interviews with NBC and ABC, adding that “anyone with information will be brought to justice.”
Following the attack, the Trump administration temporarily halted the processing of all asylum applications and announced plans to individually review pending cases.
The shooting, which took place mere blocks from the White House, has heightened the debate over immigration and national security in the U.S., as the Republican government tightens its immigration policies and scrutinizes Afghan refugees who cooperated with U.S. forces during the war.
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