Questions Arise Over Afghan Refugee Vetting After National Guard Shooting
A shooting on Thanksgiving Eve 2025 in Washington resulted in the death of one West Virginia National Guard member and left another gravely wounded. The attacker, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, reportedly used Operation Allies Welcome to enter the United States. This incident has sparked renewed scrutiny of the vetting procedures for Afghan evacuees processed through Operation Allies Welcome and whether any revisions to the process are planned by current officials.
Fox News Digital reached out to multiple Biden administration figures associated with the Afghanistan withdrawal and refugee programs for comment on the situation. Many inquiries to senior officials, including National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, Deputy NSA Jon Finer, and DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, were either unanswered or returned no response.
USCIS Administrator Joe Edlow announced that the green-card system would be reviewed in light of Lakanwal's case. Gen. Mark Milley testified to Congress that he had recommended maintaining a small force of 2,500 troops in Afghanistan during the withdrawal period. Secretary of State Antony Blinken advised President Biden on the Doha Agreement, and the State Department managed coordination concerning overflight rights, housing, and the outflow of refugees from Kabul. Additionally, Tracey Jacobson, who led the Afghanistan coordination task force during the withdrawal, did not respond to requests for comment.
