In a startling announcement on Friday, Joe Kent, the director of the National Counterterrorism Center under the Trump administration, disclosed that Rahmanullah Lakanwal, the Afghan national implicated in a lethal terror attack in Washington, D.C., was admitted into the United States without appropriate vetting. This revelation has brought intense scrutiny on the immigration and vetting processes previously implemented.
Kent's declaration pointed to what he described as a critical oversight resulting from the policies of the Biden administration, which he claims facilitated the entry of over 2 million individuals from predominantly Muslim countries with "minimal scrutiny," during a period marked by high border crossings. Among these were approximately 85,000 Afghans who were "rapidly admitted" without the extensive checks characteristic of prior administrations.
The suspect, Lakanwal, had been vetted solely for his role as a soldier in the fight against the Taliban, Al-Qaeda, and ISIS in Afghanistan, a process that Kent asserts was insufficient for ensuring his suitability for life in America. The standard for wartime vetting, according to Kent, fell short of the comprehensive evaluations required for assimilation as a neighbor or potential citizen in the U.S.
Supporting Kent's statements, a senior U.S. official described the wartime vetting standard as unprecedentedly low for admitting individuals into the homeland. This official contrasted the current situation with the practices before the Biden administration, when Special Immigrant Visa applicants were subjected to an 18-month wait and interviews in third countries.
The intelligence community's stance is echoed by Trump officials from Homeland Security and the CIA, who have linked the inadequate vetting to the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. Specifically, CIA Director John Ratcliffe highlighted that Lakanwal was admitted to the U.S. due to his previous work with American forces in Kandahar.
Tricia McLaughlin, the Assistant Secretary at Homeland Security, cited Biden's parole program as the means by which Lakanwal entered the country along with tens of thousands of other Afghans. She emphasized that Lakanwal's status under this program precluded his removal despite the risks posed.
Following his arrival under Operation Allies Welcome, Lakanwal settled in Bellingham, Washington, with his family. He successfully applied for asylum and received approval in April 2025. The tragic outcome of his presence in the U.S. was brought to light when he ambushed two National Guard members on the eve of Thanksgiving in Washington, D.C., resulting in the death of Sarah Beckstrom and leaving Andrew Wolfe in critical condition.
In response to the incident and the broader concerns it raises, the Trump administration has suspended all Afghan-related immigration, paused visa processing for Afghan nationals, and initiated a review of asylum cases approved under Biden.
State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott stated that a "whole of government effort" is being undertaken to safeguard America's national security.
