A deadly shooting near the White House has ignited a political firestorm, with President Donald Trump calling for an immediate nationwide review of every Afghan immigrant admitted to the United States under former President Joe Biden. The demand comes after authorities identified the suspected shooter as a 29-year-old Afghan national who arrived in the U.S. in 2021, shortly after the Taliban takeover.
A Shooting That Sparked a National Security Scandal
The attack — which left two members of the National Guard mortally wounded — has rapidly become the focal point of a fierce political battle over immigration and national security. Federal officials identified the suspect as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan immigrant who allegedly opened fire on the Guardsmen near the White House on Wednesday.
Trump wasted no time in placing the blame squarely on the Biden administration’s handling of the 2021 Afghanistan evacuation.
“This attack underscores the greatest national security threat our nation faces,” Trump said in a video address. “Now we must vet every foreign national who came into our country from Afghanistan under Biden.”
Trump Slams Biden’s Immigration Policies
In his message, Trump accused the previous administration of “opening the gates” to unvetted arrivals, suggesting that dangerous individuals may have entered the country.
Lakanwal reportedly served for nearly a decade in the Afghan armed forces, working alongside U.S. special operations units at a Kandahar base. He is married and a father of five.
Trump argued that the incident demands a sweeping response:
“We must take every step to remove any foreign national from any country who does not belong here or does not benefit our nation.”
Advocates Push Back: “One Case Cannot Define a Community”
The nonprofit AfghanEvac, based in San Diego, issued a sharp warning against broad generalizations. The group emphasized that Afghan allies who resettled in the U.S. underwent extensive security screening.
They urged Americans not to weaponize an individual act of violence to tarnish an entire community:
“An isolated, violent act must not be used as an excuse to define or demean an entire group,” the organization stated.
Federal Government Freezes Afghan Immigration Processing
As political tensions escalate, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced an immediate, indefinite pause on all Afghan-related immigration applications pending a full review of security protocols.
The motive behind Wednesday’s attack remains unclear. The suspect, who was also shot, remains hospitalized.
Biden and Obama Call for Calm
Both former presidents — Joe Biden and Barack Obama — released statements urging unity and rejecting violence.
Obama said:
“Violence has no place in America.”
He added that he and Michelle Obama were praying for the victims and their families.
Biden echoed the sentiment, condemning all forms of violence and expressing solidarity with the injured Guardsmen:
“Jill and I are thinking of these brave soldiers and their families,” he said.
A Nation on Edge
The shooting and its political fallout have reignited debates over immigration, vetting procedures, and national security — issues that promise to dominate Washington in the coming weeks.
With the investigation ongoing and the suspect’s motive still unknown, the incident has already reshaped the national conversation on America’s handling of Afghan evacuations and the broader question of who is allowed to enter the country.