An Afghan asylum recipient is accused of ambushing U.S. soldiers near the White House, prompting President Trump to suspend all Afghan immigration processing.
An Afghan national who entered the United States under a special resettlement program has been arrested after a targeted shooting that critically wounded two National Guard soldiers in downtown Washington, D.C. The incident has triggered a major political storm in the U.S., with President Donald Trump announcing the suspension of all immigration processing for Afghan nationals.
Suspect Entered U.S. Under Afghan Evacuation Program
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) identified the suspect as 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national who arrived in the U.S. in 2021 under Operation Allies Welcome. The program was launched after the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan to resettle Afghans who worked with American forces and feared reprisals from the Taliban.
According to U.S. officials, Lakanwal later applied for asylum in December 2024. His asylum request was approved in April 2025, just months after President Trump returned to office. A former Trump administration official told U.S. media that the suspect had no previous criminal history and had been living in Washington state before traveling to the capital.
How the Attack Happened Near the White House
The shooting occurred around 2:15 p.m. ET on Wednesday near the intersection of 17th and I Streets, only a few blocks from the White House. The two soldiers from the West Virginia National Guard were conducting a routine “high-visibility patrol” when the suspect allegedly came around a corner and ambushed them without warning.
Metropolitan Police Assistant Chief Jeff Carroll said the suspect opened fire at close range. An exchange of gunfire followed before other National Guard personnel subdued and injured him. The soldiers were taken to local hospitals in critical condition.
Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser confirmed that investigators believe the attack was targeted, and authorities currently see no evidence of additional suspects.
Trump Calls Attack ‘Terror’ and Orders Afghan Vetting Review
In a prerecorded statement released hours after the shooting, President Donald Trump condemned the attack as “an act of evil, an act of hatred and an act of terror.”
Trump said his administration would immediately re-examine the background of all Afghans who entered the U.S. during Joe Biden’s presidency, insisting that the vetting process had “failed.”
U.S. Halts All Immigration Requests From Afghan Nationals
Late Wednesday night, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced an immediate and indefinite halt to the processing of all immigration applications related to Afghan nationals. The suspension will remain in place while U.S. authorities review security and screening procedures for Afghans who entered after 2021.
Tens of thousands of Afghans were admitted to the U.S. following the withdrawal from Kabul, many under temporary or emergency protections.
DHS referred to Lakanwal in its press release as a “criminal alien from Afghanistan.” Investigators are still trying to determine a motive for the attack.
