D.C. National Guard Shooting Rekindles Scrutiny of Afghan Vetting Process

The shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, D.C., by a 29-year-old Afghan suspect has reignited debate over how evacuees from Afghanistan were screened after the 2021 withdrawal. Authorities say the suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, had previously worked with U.S. forces and intelligence and underwent multiple rounds of vetting over more than a decade.

Key background

Lakanwal was part of a prioritized evacuation from Kabul in 2021 because his work with U.S. forces, including service in an elite Afghan counterterrorism unit, put him at risk under Taliban rule. Officials say his screening history stretches back to around 2011, when U.S. agencies — including the CIA — vetted him for work alongside American personnel. He was later screened again during the 2021 evacuation and, in April of this year, was granted permanent asylum by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Vetting timeline and audits

Multiple U.S. officials describe Lakanwal undergoing several layers of checks: initial vetting overseas, additional reviews while in third countries, and continuing checks after arriving in the United States. A Justice Department Inspector General audit released in June found no systemic breakdowns in the multiagency process established to screen Afghan evacuees, but it cautioned that the urgency of evacuation sometimes overtook normal procedures, increasing the risk that bad actors might attempt to exploit expedited processing.

How officials and advocates are responding

Political leaders and security officials have offered differing interpretations of what the shooting reveals about vetting. President Donald Trump blamed the prior administration’s evacuation policies and used the incident to call for broader immigration reviews and removals. In a public address he warned of a significant national security threat and urged stricter measures on immigration.

“We must take all necessary measures to ensure the removal of any alien from any country who does not belong here or add benefit to our country.”

Other voices, including humanitarian advocates involved in resettlement efforts, stress that evacuees underwent extensive screening and that a single act of violence does not prove a systemic vetting failure. Shawn VanDiver, president of a nonprofit that helped resettle Afghans, emphasized the continuous nature of checks performed before departure, during third-country processing, and after arrival.

Some security officials point to intelligence in 2023 and 2024 that prompted the FBI to reopen background checks on dozens of admitted individuals, leading to some removals. Concerns cited by officials included the use of forged identity documents and the involvement of intermediaries with suspect ties.

Policy fallout

Following the shooting, the administration announced a review of green cards issued to nationals from 19 countries designated as "of concern" and directed agencies to pause processing of immigration requests for Afghan nationals pending further review. USCIS leadership said it would reexamine approvals at the president’s direction. The Department of Homeland Security also said it is reviewing asylum approvals made under the prior administration.

Ongoing investigation

Investigators have not yet established a clear motive for the shooting. Authorities continue to review the suspect’s background and the events surrounding the attack while balancing national security concerns with the humanitarian commitments that motivated the 2021 evacuations.

What to watch next: developments in the criminal investigation, results of any additional internal vetting reviews, and the administration’s policy decisions regarding green cards and asylum processing for nationals from the listed countries.