President Trump has described the shooting of two National Guard members from West Virginia in Washington, D.C., as “an act of terror,” promising severe consequences for the perpetrator.
Authorities have identified Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national who entered the U.S. in 2021 through “Operation Allies Welcome,” as the suspect in the Wednesday shooting. Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, and Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, were critically wounded. This program, initiated by the Biden Administration, facilitated the evacuation of numerous Afghans considered vulnerable following the U.S. withdrawal, fearing potential Taliban retribution. (Sources indicate the suspect previously worked for U.S. government entities in Afghanistan, including a CIA-supported unit.)
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem asserted that Lakanwal was among those “unvetted” and “mass paroled” into the country, echoing Republican criticisms of the 2021 withdrawal and subsequent resettlement as poorly executed.
D.C. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro stated at a Thursday press conference that the suspect drove across the country to conduct the “ambush-style” attack, mirroring Mayor Muriel Bowser’s description of a “targeted shooting.” While the motive remains unclear, Pirro mentioned it was “too soon to say.” The suspect is in custody, charged with assault with intent to kill while armed and illegal firearm possession. Pirro noted these charges could be elevated as the investigation progresses. The FBI is in the early stages of their investigation.
Even as details are awaited, the incident is already shaping into a key point in the Trump Administration’s broader argument for stricter immigration policies.
In a Wednesday evening address from Mar-a-Lago, Florida, Trump labeled the shooting a “crime against our entire nation… against humanity” and called it the “single greatest national security threat facing our nation.”
Trump vowed that the “animal” responsible will face “the steepest possible price.”
Shifting focus to immigration, Trump criticized the Biden Administration and advocated for reevaluating all Afghan refugees admitted under its policies. He insisted on the removal of “any alien, from any country, who does not belong here or add benefit to our country.”
Promising to “make America totally safe again,” Trump instructed the Department of Defense, , to deploy an “additional 500 troops” to D.C.
— The White House (@WhiteHouse)
The Trump Administration filed an emergency motion in federal appeals court on Wednesday to maintain the National Guard presence in D.C. This followed a judge’s temporary block last week on keeping over 2,000 National Guard members deployed, which began under Trump’s order in August. Judge Jia Cobb questioned the legality of the deployment, noting that many of the deployed troops appeared to be from other states.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, pledging to follow Trump’s directive, stated: “The shooter shot, in a cowardly, dastardly act, targeting the best of America. That will only stiffen our resolve. We will never back down. We will secure our capital.”
Following Trump’s address, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced an indefinite suspension of all immigration processing for Afghan nationals.
A statement shared on social media read: “Effective immediately, processing of all immigration requests relating to Afghan nationals is stopped indefinitely pending further review of security and vetting protocols. The protection and safety of our homeland and of the American people remains our singular focus and mission.”
Richard Bennett, the United Nations’ , has cautioned against what some perceive as collective punishment.
He stated that, “The perpetrator should face accountability, but the entire Afghan community must not be punished due to the actions of one individual,” adding that such actions would be “terribly unjust.”
Bennett’s remarks align with those of #AfghanEvac, a nonprofit committed to “fulfilling the United States’ duty to at-risk Afghans.”
A statement from the nonprofit asserted: “This individual’s isolated and violent act should not be used as an excuse to define or diminish an entire community.”