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The Division of Homeland Safety (DHS) below former-President Joe Biden promised to “swiftly and safely” resettle Afghan allies into the US, however a number of sources have confirmed the D.C. Nationwide Guard shooter got here in below that very same Biden-era program in 2021.
Biden responded to the “focused” assault in D.C. simply earlier than information broke of how the alleged shooter, 29-year-old Afghan nationwide Rahmanullah Lakanwal, entered the US below humanitarian parole through Operation Allies Welcome, per DHS and FBI sources, giving him permission to be in nation legally.
In 2021, amid the Afghan withdrawal debacle, Biden’s Homeland Safety Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas promised to “swiftly and safely” resettle 1000’s of Afghan allies into the US and confirmed that DHS had denied evacuees from coming into the U.S. as a result of “derogatory” info obtained throughout the vetting course of.
After the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan that was adopted by a Taliban takeover of the nation, the Biden administration launched a big operation to help and resettle susceptible Afghans, together with those who had helped U.S. troops prior to now.
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Because of the rushed nature of the evacuation, plus broader considerations over immigration and prole-release insurance policies, fears arose over whom the nation might have been letting in.
Mayorkas mentioned throughout a Sept. 2021 press convention that 120,000 individuals had been evacuated from Afghanistan for the reason that starting of the U.S. withdrawal, simply months earlier. The Air Pressure Set up and Mission Help Heart discovered that just about 800 plane evacuated 1000’s of individuals over only a 17-day interval in August 2021.
A defining picture of Afghans operating after an American navy plane leaving Kabul amid the disastrous withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan.
On the time, Mayorkas touted the strong biometric screening and vetting course of in place — in each the U.S. and transit nations — with a view to be certain each particular person coming into the nation was correctly screened.
In response to a query on the time from Fox Information’ Jake Gibson, Mayorkas confirmed that there already had been people flagged with “derogatory info” throughout the vetting course of, however didn’t specify the variety of individuals flagged.
Mayorkas assured that 400 U.S. Customs and Border Patrol workers and the Transportation Safety Administration could be introduced as much as help. A part of the trouble included shifting refugees from navy bases designated by the Pentagon to accommodate and vet refugees earlier than they enter the US.
This break up exhibits DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas the members of the Taliban. (Haroon Sabawoon/Anadolu through Getty Photographs and Anna Moneymaker/Getty Photographs)
Lakanwal, who entered the U.S. in September 2021 after America’s withdrawal from Afghanistan, had his permission to remain within the U.S. granted below Operation Allies Welcome, sources mentioned. Authorities are investigating the taking pictures as a attainable act of worldwide terrorism. FBI officers confirmed two West Virginia Nationwide Guardsmen stay in important situation after being shot within the head throughout an obvious focused assault just some blocks from the White Home.
Throughout feedback Wednesday evening, President Donald Trump known as Biden “a disastrous president” and “the worst within the historical past of our nation.”
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He additionally ridiculed the previous president for flying Lakanwal “on these notorious flights that everyone was speaking about.”
“No person knew who was coming in, no one knew something about it,” Trump identified concerning the Afghan evacuation course of below Biden. He additionally slammed broader parole and immigration insurance policies below Biden, claiming Lakanwal’s “standing was prolonged below laws signed below President Biden. “
“This assault underscores the one best nationwide safety risk going through our nation,” Trump added, saying that the federal government “should now reexamine each single alien who has entered our nation below Biden.”
Trump additionally appeared to recommend the demise penalty for Lakanwal, stating towards the tip of his tackle that “we are going to deliver the perpetrator of this barbaric assault to swift and sure justice – if the bullet’s moving into the wrong way – (unintelligible).”
Nationwide Guard troopers stand behind the crime scene tape at a nook in downtown Washington, Nov. 26, 2025. Two Nationwide Guard troopers had been shot a number of blocks from the White Home, in accordance with regulation enforcement. (Drew Angerer / AFP through Getty Photographs)
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In the meantime, former President Biden did reply to the tragic D.C. assault, however his feedback got here earlier than information of how the shooter entered the US.
“Jill and I are heartbroken that two members of the Nationwide Guard had been shot outdoors the White Home,” Biden posted on X, simply earlier than information broke that the shooter entered the nation below his administration’s speedy resettlement program.
“Violence of any form is unacceptable, and we should all stand united towards it. We’re praying for the service members and their households.”
Fox Information Digital Reached out to the Division of Homeland Safety for touch upon the information that Lakanwal got here into the US below the Biden-era program, however didn’t obtain a response. Makes an attempt to achieve former DHS Secretary Mayorkas additionally had been unsuccessful in time for publication.
Fox Information’ Brooke Singman and Kelly Laco contributed to this report.
