Shooting Near White House Wounds Two National Guard Members; Afghan National Arrested, Renewing Debate Over 2021 Arrivals

Two members of the West Virginia National Guard were shot while on duty a few blocks from the White House on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Both service members were seriously wounded and remain in critical condition in hospital.

Law enforcement detained a suspect at the scene. Federal officials and media reports identified him as an Afghan national who, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), arrived in the United States in 2021 under the post-withdrawal Operation Allies Welcome program. The DHS released an alternate spelling of the suspect’s surname.

Incident details

Police say the suspect was shot and wounded by responding officers; officials described his injuries as not life-threatening. Media reporting, citing unnamed law enforcement sources, indicates the suspect applied for asylum in 2024 and was granted it in 2025. Authorities continue to investigate the motive and the suspect’s background.

Official responses and political fallout

Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser and federal law enforcement confirmed the two guardsmen were transported to hospital in critical condition. The incident prompted strong statements from national political figures. Former President Donald Trump described the attack in stark terms and called for a review of Afghan arrivals from 2021, repeating claims about gaps in vetting and urging removals of individuals deemed a threat.

South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem posted on social media that the suspect was among those paroled into the United States under Operation Allies Welcome and criticized the vetting process. DHS also published a statement about the suspect’s arrival under the 2021 program.

What Operation Allies Welcome involved

Operation Allies Welcome was created after the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021 to admit vulnerable Afghans, particularly those who had assisted U.S. forces and might face retaliation. The Congressional Research Service estimated roughly 77,000 Afghans entered the United States under that initial program before it transitioned into a longer-term resettlement effort.

DHS materials from the period describe a multi-layered vetting process involving biometric and biographic checks and the participation of agencies across the federal government. Officials said hundreds of personnel were deployed to overseas processing sites to conduct security screenings, interviews and biometric captures prior to travel to the United States.

Legal and security actions

Federal authorities described the shooting as a major security incident and said they had mobilized federal, state and local resources to investigate. Separately, the White House filed an emergency motion in federal court to pause a prior ruling that would have required the removal of National Guard troops from Washington, D.C.

Context

The chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021 and the subsequent evacuation produced dramatic images and a large displacement of people; hundreds of thousands of Afghans have since fled the country. Many who assisted U.S. forces were offered resettlement paths, including Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) intended for those who worked with American military and diplomatic efforts.

In the wake of the shooting, political debate has reopened over immigration screening, parole policies and the balance between national security and humanitarian obligations. Officials continue to investigate the attack, and further details are expected as law enforcement releases more information.