Trump: US Must ‘Re-Examine’ Everyone Came from Afghanistan Under Biden/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Trump sharply criticized the Biden-era Operation Allies Welcome program after an Afghan refugee shot two National Guard members near the White House. The shooter had previously worked with the CIA in Afghanistan. Trump claims the vetting process failed and called for major immigration rollbacks.
Afghan Refugee Program Criticized Quick Looks
- Trump condemns Operation Allies Welcome after DC shooting
- Afghan refugee Rahmanullah Lakanwal accused of shooting two Guardsmen
- Shooter reportedly worked with CIA forces in Kandahar
- Lakanwal granted asylum in 2021 after U.S. withdrawal
- Trump blames poor vetting and calls incident a national betrayal
- Refugee resettlement groups urge public not to politicize tragedy
- Biden defends program to aid Afghan allies post-Taliban takeover
- Trump administration halts refugee funding and resettlement support
- Afghan communities established in California, Virginia, and Texas
- Trump’s policies seek to drastically limit refugee admissions
Deep Look: Trump Slams Operation Allies Welcome After Afghan Refugee Accused of Shooting U.S. Guards
WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump has intensified his criticism of the Afghan refugee resettlement program, Operation Allies Welcome, after a deadly shooting near the White House involving an Afghan asylum seeker. The suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, was among the tens of thousands brought to the U.S. following the chaotic American withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.
The attack, which left one National Guard member dead and another critically wounded, has reignited political tensions surrounding immigration, refugee vetting, and national security. Trump, responding swiftly, labeled the program a “catastrophic failure” and demanded a full review of Afghan refugee entries.
“This individual — and so many others — should have never been allowed to come here,” CIA Director John Ratcliffe stated in a rare public comment. “Our citizens and servicemembers deserve far better than to endure the ongoing fallout from the Biden administration’s catastrophic failures.”
Shooter Worked with CIA-Backed Forces
Lakanwal, now in custody, had worked in Kandahar as part of a CIA-partnered military force. His precise duties remain undisclosed, but the region is known for its deep Taliban roots and intense NATO resistance during the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan. CIA operations in the area relied heavily on Afghan nationals for intelligence, translation, and combat support.
His asylum was approved in April 2021, according to the advocacy group #AfghanEvac, which helps Afghan allies relocate to safety. As with all refugees under Operation Allies Welcome, Lakanwal reportedly underwent extensive biometric screenings, including fingerprinting, iris scans, and security interviews.
Trump Condemns Refugee Vetting and Suspends Resettlement Aid
Trump continues to assert that the refugee vetting process is flawed, citing Lakanwal’s case as proof. Early in his term, Trump issued an executive order suspending federal funding for resettlement agencies, a move that significantly hampered non-profits — especially religious groups — that support new arrivals with housing, food, and medical aid.
Trump went further, accusing the Biden-era program of importing danger into the country. “If they can’t love our country, we don’t want them,” he said via a social media statement. He called the shooting “a crime against our entire nation.”
Refugee Advocates Call for Caution, Not Political Attacks
In contrast, refugee advocacy groups have urged the public and politicians to avoid broad generalizations based on one tragic incident.
“I don’t want people to leverage this tragedy into a political ploy,” said Shawn VanDiver, president of #AfghanEvac. “Tens of thousands of Afghans were thoroughly vetted and came here to build new, peaceful lives.”
Following their arrival in the U.S., many refugees were temporarily housed at military bases, including Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey, Fort McCoy in Wisconsin, and Fort Bliss in Texas. There, they underwent health and background screenings before being resettled in communities across the nation.
Refugees have since established new lives in cities like Sacramento, California, Arlington, Virginia, and Houston, Texas. Smaller populations, ranging from 1,000 to 3,000, now reside in states including Arizona, New York, Georgia, Colorado, Nebraska, Florida, and Pennsylvania.
Trump Targets Somali Refugees, Signals Broad Crackdown
Using the shooting as a springboard, Trump expanded his critique to other refugee communities, notably Somali immigrants in Minnesota, whom he accused of “ripping apart that once-great state.” His rhetoric signals a continued focus on restricting immigration and rolling back refugee admissions during his administration.
Trump reiterated his campaign promise to remove individuals he considers unfit to stay in the country. “We will deport anyone who does not belong here or does not add benefit to our country,” he declared.
One Refugee’s Story of Hope Amid Chaos
Despite the political backlash, many Afghan refugees continue to express gratitude for the opportunity to rebuild their lives in the U.S. Mohammad Saboor, a father of seven, worked with U.S. and international forces for nearly two decades as an electrician and A/C technician.
Now resettled in California, Saboor says he is focused on his children’s future. “I believe that now we can live in a 100% peaceful environment,” he told the Associated Press. “I want to give back to this country.”
Saboor’s story is one of thousands — individuals who risked everything to support American efforts during the war and are now seeking peace and stability in the U.S.
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