Following a shooting that seriously injured two National Guard soldiers in Washington, President Donald Trump labeled the incident an act of terrorism and ordered a review of green cards for foreigners from concerning countries. The suspect, an Afghan immigrant who worked with the CIA, arrived in the US in 2021. The Republican administration blames predecessor Joe Biden's policies for vetting failures.
Two National Guard soldiers were shot and seriously injured by Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan immigrant, near the White House in Washington. The incident occurred recently, prompting President Donald Trump to declare the shooting 'an act of terrorism'. Lakanwal, who worked with the CIA in Kandahar, Afghanistan, entered the US in 2021 through Operation Allies Welcome, a program that allowed over 70,000 Afghans to arrive with vetting by intelligence agencies, though critics note inefficiencies due to the rushed scale of evacuations.
Under Trump's direction, the director of immigration services, Joseph Edlow, ordered on Thursday (27) a full review of 'all green cards of all foreigners from all countries' deemed concerning. On Wednesday (26), the agency suspended processing of immigration requests from Afghan citizens. Trump stated: 'We must take all necessary measures to ensure the expulsion of any foreigner from any country that does not belong here or does not bring benefits to our country. If they cannot love our country, we do not want them'.
Edlow added: 'The American people will not bear the cost of the previous administration's reckless resettlement policies. The safety of Americans is non-negotiable'. Justice Secretary Pam Bondi seeks the death penalty for Lakanwal, who faces charges of assault with intent to kill; if the soldiers die, it will be murder. Prosecutor Jeanine Pirro said: 'He chose the wrong target, the wrong city, and the wrong country'. Lakanwal lived in Washington state and drove to the site.
FBI Director Kash Patel claimed the Biden administration failed to conduct proper checks, without providing evidence. However, Lakanwal applied for asylum in December 2024 and was approved on April 23, 2025, under the Trump administration, with no known criminal background. CIA Director John Ratcliffe confirmed the suspect's collaboration but criticized: 'This individual—and so many others—should never have been allowed to come here'. White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson blamed Biden: 'This animal would never have been here if not for Joe Biden's dangerous policies'.
Trump is using the case to advance his anti-immigration agenda, central to his term, expanding the debate beyond illegal immigration.