D.C. Shooting Reignites Firestorm Over Biden’s Afghan Vetting Program
The Biden-era “Operation Allies Welcome” program, created to resettle Afghan partners of the United States following the withdrawal from Afghanistan, is facing renewed scrutiny after a deadly shooting near the White House left one National Guard member dead and another injured. Republican lawmakers say the incident highlights serious flaws in the vetting system, while Democrats accuse the Trump administration of politically motivated overreach.
Deadly Shooting Sparks Congressional Demands for a Review
On Wednesday, gunfire erupted just blocks from the White House. Police arrested Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, who was also injured during the incident. Two National Guard service members were shot: U.S. Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24. Beckstrom died from her wounds early Thursday.
Lakanwal has been charged with three counts of possessing a firearm during a violent crime and two counts of assault with intent to kill while armed.
According to federal officials, Lakanwal had previously worked with both the CIA and U.S. military personnel during the two-decade war in Afghanistan. He arrived in the United States through the Afghan evacuation and resettlement process, raising new questions about the robustness of Biden-era vetting procedures.
Federal Agencies and Congress Signal a System-Wide Reassessment
Following the incident, the Trump administration confirmed that Afghan immigration is now paused indefinitely. According to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the pause will continue until a full review of security and vetting protocols is completed.
The State Department has suspended all visa processing connected to Afghanistan. Trump has also ordered a reassessment of cases involving Afghans who entered the country under Operation Allies Welcome and other post-withdrawal humanitarian programs.
“We must now reexamine every single alien who has entered our country from Afghanistan under Biden,” Trump said Wednesday at Mar-a-Lago. “And we must take all necessary measures to ensure the removal of any alien from any country who does not belong here or contribute to our country.”
USCIS has also begun reviewing green card approvals connected to 19 countries considered higher-risk, a move directly tied to the D.C. shooting.
Republicans Push for Broader Vetting and Deportations
Several Republicans say the shooting is evidence that the OAW program lacked adequate vetting, transparency, and follow-through.
Sen. Rick Scott of Florida urged Congress to pass his “Afghan Vetting Accountability Act,” which would require periodic and continuous vetting of Afghan evacuees admitted between 2021 and 2022. The bill is tailored to those admitted under OAW.
Sen. Tommy Tuberville, Rep. Mary Miller, and Rep. Chip Roy have called for broad deportations of migrants they describe as “Islamist” or ideologically aligned with anti-Western extremism.
GOP leaders also argue that the Biden administration allowed thousands of evacuees into the country without documentation, adequate background checks, or robust identity verification. They say this incident represents a failure of national-security policy, not an isolated tragedy.
Democrats Push Back, Accuse GOP of Targeting Innocent Refugees
Democrats dispute the claim that vetting under OAW was inadequate. They argue that the shooting, while tragic, does not prove systemic failure.
Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona called Republican calls for mass reviews “harassment” and said the Trump administration is unfairly targeting Afghans who followed legal processes and have lived peacefully in the United States.
“Going after a large group of people, most of whom are just trying to live their lives, raise their families, go to work every day, the U.S. government harassing them years later does not make a lot of sense to me,” Kelly said Sunday on CNN.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland added that refugee vetting should always be reviewed, but said that “in this case, there is no evidence that something escaped the vetting.”
Will Congress Form a Special Committee?
Republican lawmakers say they expect hearings on the issue, but it is unclear whether either chamber of Congress will create a bipartisan special committee.
Democratic leaders have signaled resistance, arguing that a broad investigation would stigmatize Afghan allies who risked their lives assisting the United States.
For now, Afghan immigration remains frozen. Visa processing from Afghanistan is suspended. And thousands of previously approved cases will undergo new reviews in the coming months.
As investigations unfold, lawmakers from both parties face pressure to balance national-security concerns with America’s longstanding commitment to protecting wartime partners.