The recent shooting of two National Guard members by an Afghan man in Washington DC has raised significant concerns about the vetting of Afghan nationals who entered the United States under policies established during the Biden administration.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reported that the suspect, 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, had been admitted to the US under Operation Allies Welcome (OAW), a program initiated to assist vulnerable Afghans following the Taliban's takeover in 2021.
Republican leaders have alleged that individuals like Lakanwal were not adequately vetted prior to their entry, prompting DNA audits of the vetting process. The DHS has announced a halt on processing immigration applications related to Afghan nationals while it reviews security measures in light of the incident.
Former President Donald Trump claimed that under the Biden administration, many individuals entered the country unvetted, and FBI Director Kash Patel further suggested that prior administrations permitted entries without proper background checks.
Defense of the OAW program cites a 'rigorous' vetting system involving biometric and identity checks conducted by various government agencies, including the FBI. Nonetheless, there have been contrasting views on the efficiency of the vetting process, particularly within the chaos surrounding the evacuation from Afghanistan.
As a result of concerns regarding the suspect’s entry and prior associations, including work with the CIA and possible security risks, an expert review revealed weaknesses in the identification process during the vetting of Afghan evacuees.
Despite the shooting being a significant incident, advocates argue that it should not reflect the safety of the Afghan community at large, which comprises over 190,000 individuals currently resettled in the US. Many feel that the scrutiny of the vetting process must balance national security with humanitarian efforts.
