A senior U.S. official has confirmed that the Afghan national suspected in the Washington, D.C. shooting was vetted by U.S. intelligence agencies and cleared – described as “clean on all checks” – before being admitted under the 2021 resettlement programme, according to media reporting.
The suspect, identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, was among thousands evacuated from Afghanistan under Operation Allies Welcome after the U.S. withdrawal in 2021. He allegedly opened fire on two members of the West Virginia National Guard near the White House on November 26, critically wounding both.
Information shared by U.S. intelligence and immigration sources indicates that before resettlement, Lakanwal underwent standard vetting protocols involving biographic and biometric screening carried out by multiple agencies, including counterterrorism authorities, and no red flags emerged.
Despite the prior vetting clearance, the attack has triggered a swift policy reaction: U.S. immigration authorities have halted all Afghan-related immigration processing indefinitely, while a broader review of vetting procedures is launched. President Donald J. Trump described the shooting as an “act of terror,” and said the administration will re-examine all immigrants admitted from Afghanistan under prior administrations.
Advocates and refugee-resettlement groups argue the “clean on all checks” assertion complicates claims that recent Afghan immigrants represent a broad security threat, warning against collective punishment of entire communities for the crimes of a single individual.
The investigation remains ongoing. Meanwhile, the shooting and its aftermath are prompting renewed debate in Washington over immigration vetting standards, national security, and how to balance humanitarian commitments with public safety.
