A heated exchange marked the House Homeland Security Committee hearing on Thursday when Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem sharply contested Rep. Bennie Thompson's (D-MS) description of a recent shooting. The incident in question involved Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who fatally shot two West Virginia National Guardsmen on the eve of Thanksgiving. The confrontation took place on Capitol Hill, with national security implications at the forefront of the discussion.
The tragic event occurred in Washington state, where Lakanwal was residing at the time. During the tense hearing, Thompson referred to the attack as an "unfortunate accident," a characterization that Noem firmly rejected, labeling the event a "terrorist attack." The casualties of the attack were Spc. Sarah Beckstrom of Webster County, who lost her life, and Spc. Andrew Wolfe of Berkeley County, who was seriously wounded.
The hearing, which also featured National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent and FBI National Security Branch Operations Director Michael Glasheen, centered on the vetting and asylum process that allowed Lakanwal into the United States. These discussions were set against the backdrop of Operation Allies Welcome and Operation Allies Refuge, initiatives launched after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 to resettle Afghan nationals.
Secretary Noem criticized the current administration for adhering to military vetting standards without conducting annual follow-ups, thus potentially leaving national security at risk due to oversight gaps. She pointed out that Lakanwal's asylum application was processed under the Biden administration's established rules, which she deemed insufficient for ensuring due diligence.
Kent supported Noem's concerns, suggesting that Lakanwal, among others, would not have been admitted to the U.S. if the procedures for Special Immigrant Visas had been properly followed, placing responsibility on President Joe Biden's policies. Rep. Thompson's persistent questioning aimed at identifying who approved Lakanwal's asylum application was met with Noem's insistence that the policies of the Biden era were foundational to his admittance.
The hearing took an emotional turn when Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) interjected, expressing that the incident was a murder, not merely an "unfortunate incident," and condemning Thompson's remarks as disrespectful. Committee rules, however, prevented further debate on the matter, as reported by Fox News.
Federal officials confirmed Lakanwal's entry into the U.S. under the Biden-era resettlement programs, vetted according to military standards. Nonetheless, concerns over immigration oversight and the approval process were highlighted by lawmakers, reflecting the broader issues of federal oversight and immigration policy.
The deadly attack has prompted renewed scrutiny over the administration's handling of Afghan refugees, raising questions about the impact of expedited vetting procedures on national security. The committee members indicated that investigations into Lakanwal's entry and asylum approval would continue, underscoring the ongoing disputes over these matters.
Observers have noted that the confrontation between Noem and Thompson underscores the sharp partisan divides over immigration enforcement, the Afghanistan withdrawal, and asylum vetting protocols. The testimony and the subsequent clash have attracted national attention, becoming a focal point in the debates over Trump-era immigration policies, Biden-era resettlement programs, and accountability in national security operations.
The exchange between Noem and Thompson exemplifies the ongoing tensions in Congress regarding resettlement programs and asylum approvals. It highlights the challenges lawmakers face in balancing humanitarian considerations with security obligations. As the scrutiny of the vetting and oversight processes for individuals admitted under Operation Allies Welcome continues, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are expected to remain vigilant.
