On November 27, 2025, a tragic shooting unfolded near the White House in Washington, D.C., where 29-year-old Afghan immigrant Rahmanullah Lakanwal ambushed National Guard members, killing one and critically injuring another. Lakanwal had entered the U.S. in 2021 amid the Biden administration’s chaotic evacuation of Afghan allies as the Taliban seized power. Despite his service in a CIA-backed unit, he received asylum in April under the subsequent Trump administration.
The attack, occurring just blocks from the executive mansion, shocked the nation and prompted swift federal scrutiny. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem revealed on Sunday morning talk shows that investigators believe Lakanwal was radicalized after arriving in the United States, specifically while residing in Washington state. She attributed the shift to connections within his local Afghan community, stating, “We believe he was radicalized since he has been here in this country… Unvetted by Joe Biden, allowed to run free.”
Authorities are now probing family members and acquaintances for insights into his transformation, underscoring vulnerabilities in post-arrival monitoring. The Trump administration swiftly linked the incident to broader immigration failures from the Biden era. President Trump announced a potential indefinite pause on asylum admissions, declaring, “No time limit, but it could be a long time. We have enough problems. We don’t want those people.”
He vowed aggressive deportations, emphasizing the need to expel those deemed unfit for U.S. residency, and framed the shooting as a direct consequence of lax policies that allowed high-risk individuals to enter unchecked. In immediate response, the administration froze all asylum application processing and committed to reviewing pending claims for potential revocations and deportations.