CRBC News
Culture
Society
Security
Health
Conflict
Science
Technology
Politics
Environment
Lifestyle
Economy

Hawley Reintroduces Bill to Tighten Vetting of Afghan Evacuees After D.C. National Guard Shooting

Sen. Josh Hawley has reintroduced the Afghanistan Vetting and Accountability Act, which would require DHS to verify biometrics, conduct in-person interviews and suspend federal aid for unvetted Afghan evacuees. The move follows an alleged shooting in Washington, D.C., in which a 29-year-old evacuee is accused of killing one National Guardsman and critically injuring another. Prosecutors say the Justice Department will seek the death penalty. A separate arrest involves an alleged bomb plot in Texas; both suspects reportedly entered under Operation Allies Welcome.

03:02 AM, 12/03/2025Security
Hawley Reintroduces Bill to Tighten Vetting of Afghan Evacuees After D.C. National Guard Shooting

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) has reintroduced legislation that would require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to strengthen vetting procedures for Afghan evacuees brought to the United States following the 2021 U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan.

The measure, called the Afghanistan Vetting and Accountability Act, would require DHS to verify evacuees' biometric and personal records and to conduct in-person vetting interviews for each individual. Under the proposal, federal assistance would be suspended for any evacuee who has not completed the required vetting, and DHS would be required to provide Congress with quarterly briefings on the vetting process.

"Joe Biden didn’t just botch our withdrawal from Afghanistan, he put Americans at risk by allowing tens of thousands of refugees into our country without proper vetting," Hawley said in a statement. "My bill will codify protections to ensure anyone allowed into our country is not a threat to our citizens."

The renewed push comes about a week after an Afghan evacuee allegedly shot two National Guard members in Washington, D.C. One victim, Sarah Beckstrom, died from her injuries; the other, Andrew Wolfe, remains in critical condition.

Authorities have charged 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal with multiple crimes related to the incident, including first-degree murder and two counts of assault with intent to kill while armed. Prosecutors said the Justice Department intends to pursue the death penalty in the case.

Officials say Lakanwal entered the United States through "Operation Allies Welcome," the program established to resettle Afghans after the withdrawal. Critics contend the operation did not adequately vet all evacuees.

In a separate case the same week, Mohammad Dawood Alokozay was arrested after posting a video on social media in which he appeared to describe building a bomb and identifying a target in the Fort Worth, Texas, area. Alokozay also entered the U.S. under Operation Allies Welcome and now faces federal charges.

The bill’s reintroduction is likely to reignite debate in Congress over how to balance national security and public-safety concerns with humanitarian commitments to evacuees. Hawley first proposed the legislation immediately after the 2021 withdrawal; it failed to pass previously.

Similar Articles

Trending