Vance’s past warnings reignite after Afghan national named as suspect in DC Guard shooting
In the wake of a tragic shooting incident involving two National Guard troops in Washington, Vice President JD Vance’s longstanding concerns regarding the U.S. refugee vetting process have resurfaced. The suspect, identified as 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, entered the United States legally in 2021 as part of the Biden administration’s Operation Allies Welcome, which aimed to resettle Afghan refugees following the chaotic withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan. This incident has reignited discussions about the adequacy of the vetting procedures for refugees, particularly those from conflict zones, as Vance has consistently warned that insufficient scrutiny could lead to dangerous individuals entering the country.
Vance’s apprehensions date back to 2021, when he publicly criticized the refugee resettlement efforts, arguing for a more rigorous vetting process to ensure that individuals with harmful intentions are not allowed to enter the U.S. He cited a Pew Research Center survey, claiming that a significant number of Afghans believe suicide bombings can be justified, although this claim has not been independently verified. In a recent interview, Vance reiterated his belief that the current vetting systems are inadequate, referencing cases like that of Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, who was charged with planning a terrorist attack and had previously entered the U.S. as a refugee. Following the shooting, Vance emphasized the need for immediate action to address these concerns, stating that the U.S. must prioritize the deportation of individuals who do not have a rightful claim to remain in the country.
The shooting incident itself has had devastating consequences, resulting in the death of U.S. Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom and leaving U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe in critical condition. Vance’s remarks following the shooting reflect a growing sentiment among some lawmakers and constituents who are demanding stricter immigration controls and enhanced security measures. The incident has also prompted responses from former President Donald Trump, who called for a halt to migration from “all Third World Countries,” further intensifying the debate around immigration policy and national security. As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how these discussions will shape future policies regarding refugee resettlement and vetting in the U.S.
Vice President
JD Vance
has long cautioned about the U.S. refugee vetting process dating back to the U.S. withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan in 2021 and the refugees who came afterward. Vance’s previous remarks on the matter are resurfacing after two National Guard troops were shot in Washington Wednesday.
Law enforcement officials identified the shooting suspect as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, who entered the U.S. legally in 2021 under the Biden administration’s Operation Allies Welcome program, which sought to help resettle Afghan refugees in the U.S.
In 2021, Vance posted a video to social media in response to then-Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., who argued the U.S. had an obligation to assist refugees seeking to depart Afghanistan.
“Yes, let’s
help the Afghans
that helped us, but let’s ensure that we’re properly vetting them, so that we don’t get a bunch of people who believe they should blow themselves up at a mall because somebody looked at their wife the wrong way,” Vance,
a Marine Corps veteran,
said in the video clip.
ALLEGED DC SHOOTER ENTERED US UNDER AFGHAN RESETTLEMENT PUSH MAYORKAS VOWED WOULD BE DONE ‘SWIFTLY AND SAFELY’
Vance also claimed that a Pew Research Center survey found that
four in 10 Afghans
believe suicide bombing is justified to protect Islam.
Fox News Digital could not independently confirm the existence of the poll. However, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, an American state-funded media organization, reported on the poll in 2013 with the same statistics.
Vance’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
Afghanistan’s top religious leaders who make up the Afghan Ulema Council have previously issued Islamic rulings to ban suicide attacks and have claimed such attacks aren’t in alignment with Islamic teachings.
More recently, Vance voiced similar concerns in an
interview with CBS’s Margaret Brennan
in January, when he said, “We have vetting problems with a lot of these refugee programs. We absolutely cannot unleash thousands of unvetted people into our country.”
WHO IS THE DC NATIONAL GUARDSMEN SHOOTING SUSPECT? WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT AFGHAN NATIONAL RAHMANULLAH LAKANWAL
Specifically, Vance pointed to an Afghan national, Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, who at the time had been charged for allegedly planning a terrorist attack on or around Election Day in 2024. Tawhedi pleaded guilty to two terrorism-related charges in June.
Tawhedi and co-conspirator Abdullah Haji Zada, also from Afghanistan, were arrested on Oct. 7, 2024, after they purchased guns and ammunition from undercover FBI agents, according to the Justice Department. Court documents claim that the two purchased two AK-47 rifles, 500 rounds of ammunition and 10 magazines with the intent to conduct a mass casualty attack within the U.S.
Zada, 19, was sentenced earlier in November to 15 years in federal prison.
Vance referenced his remarks from 2021 Wednesday after the shooting in Washington and signaled future action would emerge to crack down on the vetting process for refugees.
“I remember back in 2021 criticizing the Biden policy of opening the floodgate to unvetted Afghan refugees,” Vance said Wednesday. “Friends sent me messages calling me a racist. It was a clarifying moment.
LAW ENFORCEMENT RESPONDING AFTER 2 NATIONAL GUARD MEMBERS SHOT NEAR WHITE HOUSE
“Many of our voters will demand not just words, but action, and this is an entirely appropriate response,” Vance said Wednesday. “We will first bring the shooter to justice, and then we must redouble our efforts to deport people with no right to be in our country.”
U.S. Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, died Thursday of injuries from the Wednesday shooting, and U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe remains in critical condition, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro said.
Fox News Digital first reported that Lakenwal partnered with the U.S. government, including the CIA, as a member of a partner force in Afghanistan.
DETAILS EMERGE ON CIA UNIT ALLEGED NATIONAL GUARD SHOOTER SERVED WITH IN AFGHANISTAN
In response to the shooting, Trump said in a social media post Thursday he would permanently pause migration from “all Third World Countries.”
Additionally, the head of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Joseph Edlow, said Thursday that, in accordance with orders from Trump, he has “directed a full scale, rigorous reexamination of every Green Card for every alien from every country of concern.”
The White House did not provide additional information regarding which countries would be affected and referred Fox News Digital to Trump’s social media post.
Fox News’ Brooke Singman contributed to this report.
