Republicans split on Afghan policy after DC shooting

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) Republicans on Capitol Hill and inside President Trump’s administration are split over Afghan immigrant policy after an Afghan national shot two National Guard members here on November 26, 2025, killing one and wounding another, and prompting a fast-moving set of immigration restrictions aimed at Afghans and other “countries of concern.” The shooter, authorities said, was Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an asylum recipient who arrived during the chaotic 2021 evacuation from Afghanistan. President Trump has blamed Biden-era screening and ordered new limits, while some GOP lawmakers warn that broad crackdowns could betray Afghan allies who served alongside U.S. troops.

The suspect and investigation details

Investigators say Rahmanullah Lakanwal was born February 9, 1996, in Afghanistan’s Khost Province and entered the United States on September 8, 2021, through Operation Allies Welcome. He later received asylum during the Trump administration, according to source material.

In the attack, prosecutors said he shouted “Allahu Akbar,” and he has not cooperated with investigators. The source material also says he had prior CIA-linked paramilitary training in Afghanistan, a detail now at the center of questions about what U.S. agencies knew at the time of his admission.

There is, however, no evidence in the source material showing what extra vetting would have uncovered before Lakanwal’s entry.

Administration response — immediate actions

Within days of the attack, the White House moved to show force and tighten entry rules. Key actions taken include:

• Deployment of 500 additional National Guard troops to Washington, D.C.
• Directives to agencies to clamp down on immigration benefits linked to the Afghan evacuation pipeline.
• State Department announcement on November 28, 2025: pause on visa issuance for Afghan passport holders.
• USCIS Policy Memorandum on December 2, 2025: halt to all asylum decisions (interviews may continue, but officers are not allowed to grant or deny cases while the pause is in place).
• Re-examination of green cards tied to 19 “countries of concern” under Proclamation 10949.
• Reduction in Employment Authorization Document (EAD) validity to 18 months for asylees, refugees, and others who rely on work permits.

Impact of the EAD change

• Shorter validity means more frequent renewals and additional filing fees.
• Increased chance of gaps in work authorization if processing slows, even for people who have previously passed security checks.

Timeline of key dates

1. September 8, 2021 — Lakanwal enters U.S. via Operation Allies Welcome.
2. November 26, 2025 — Shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, D.C.
3. November 28, 2025 — State Department pauses visas for Afghan passport holders.
4. December 2, 2025 — USCIS issues Policy Memorandum halting asylum decisions.

Political reactions and rhetoric

White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson called Lakanwal an “animal” and blamed Biden-era policies, framing the case as proof that prior vetting failed.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem emphasized the possibility of U.S.-based radicalization, while President Trump, when pressed about deporting all Afghans, replied: “No, but there’s a lot of problems with Afghans,” and said his administration was reviewing whether to deport members of Lakanwal’s family.

The source material notes there is no evidence that additional pre-September-2021 screening would have flagged Lakanwal as a threat.

“Knee-jerk reactions” could harm allies — Sen. Thom Tillis

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) warned against “knee-jerk reactions” that could block valid cases for Afghans who helped U.S. forces as guards, drivers, interpreters, or cooks. Several GOP lawmakers privately said they fear sweeping pauses will trap people who already cleared multiple screenings, including families still abroad who believed U.S. promises after two decades of war.

Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) called for “more intensive and careful vetting” than under the prior administration, underscoring a debate less about whether to help Afghans and more about how to help without letting one attack define an entire group.

Concerns from Afghan communities and advocates

Afghan communities around the country report fear about:

• Deportation efforts for people with precarious status.
• Delays for those seeking legal protection.
• Risk of hate crimes after a suspect invoked religion during violence.

Jeff Joseph, president of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, and Ben Johnson, the group’s executive director, urged policymakers to respond in ways that “bolster security without undermining it,” arguing that blunt bans can push people into the shadows and make cooperation with law enforcement harder.

For ongoing USCIS asylum updates, the source directs readers to the agency’s asylum page: https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/refugees-and-asylum/asylum

Broader security and policy questions

Security specialists and immigration officers say the case raises difficult questions with no easy answer. The source material highlights:

• No evidence that additional screening before September 2021 would have flagged Lakanwal as a threat.
• The possibility that the real challenge is what happens after arrival, not only screening at the border.
• Political pressure for immediate action has been strong, leading to rapid policy shifts intended to reassure the public.

The extra National Guard deployment was meant to reassure residents while the investigation continues. For Afghans who arrived during the evacuation and later built lives in the U.S., the new policies can feel like punishment by association.

Congressional divide and practical consequences

The source material describes a split in Congress:

• Some Republicans insist the U.S. must keep pathways open for partners who risked their lives for American units.
• Others support President Trump’s promise of tougher enforcement and broader removals.

Practical consequences include:

• The visa pause has left many relatives of evacuees unsure when, or if, they will be allowed to join family members already in the U.S.
• The asylum decision halt, even with interviews continuing, means applicants may spend months or years in limbo, unable to plan for school, work, or travel.
• Advocates argue the government can investigate Lakanwal’s background and any links to training networks without turning a criminal case into a blanket judgment on a population that includes U.S. military allies, students, and families.

Key takeaways

• The attack prompted immediate, wide-ranging immigration restrictions affecting Afghans and other nationals tied to 19 countries of concern.
• Officials implemented both security measures (National Guard deployment) and administrative pauses (visa and asylum halts).
• Lawmakers and advocates disagree over whether these responses protect the public or unfairly penalize allies who served with U.S. forces.
• There is no clear evidence from the source material that more vetting before 2021 would have prevented this incident, highlighting the complexity of balancing security and humanitarian commitments.