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The Afghan responsible for killing a member of the National Guard in Washington, D.C., was granted political asylum under the administration of Donald Trump, a fact that will remain a sticking point in the president's immigration policy.
According to documents from the U.S. government reviewed by Reuters, the suspect, identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, was pointed out by authorities as the person responsible for the attack that occurred last Wednesday, just meters from the White House, in which a National Guard member was killed and another one was seriously injured.
According to the agency, Lakanwal entered the United States on September 8, 2021, as part of the Operation Allies Welcome program, implemented following the military withdrawal from Afghanistan and the takeover by the Taliban.
The report consulted by Reuters indicates that Lakanwal applied for asylum in December 2024, during Joe Biden's administration, and that approval was granted on April 23, 2025, three months after Trump assumed the presidency once again.
U.S. authorities confirmed that the Afghan had no known criminal record and had previously been barred due to his work with CIA-backed forces in Afghanistan.
During a press conference, FBI Director Kash Patel and District of Columbia Attorney Jeanine Pirro, both appointed by Trump, attributed Lakanwal's entry to alleged failures in the background check process during the Joe Biden administration.
However, Reuters noted that none provided evidence to support that claim.
Trump himself described the suspect as an "animal" and characterized the attack as "an act of terror," in addition to ordering a comprehensive review of all asylum cases processed during the previous administration.
The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that asylum applications from Afghan citizens have been suspended while the files are under review.
According to the investigation, Lakanwal did not become radicalized until after arriving in the United States, according to statements made by Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, this Sunday.
The official stated that authorities believe the accused adopted extremist views while residing in Washington State, and that their family and community background is under investigation.
"We believe he was radicalized here, in this country," Noem said in interviews with NBC and ABC, where she also warned that "anyone with information will be brought to justice."
After the attack, the Trump administration ordered a temporary freeze on the processing of all asylum applications and warned that it would review pending cases on an individual basis.
The shooting, which occurred just a few blocks from the White House, has intensified the debate over immigration and national security in the United States, as the Republican government tightens its immigration policies and revisits the entry of Afghan refugees who assisted U.S. forces during the war.
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