During the Biden administration, an Afghan national accused of fatally shooting two National Guardsmen in Washington, D.C., has been resettled in the U.S. as part of “Operation Welcome Allies,” which aimed to support tens of thousands of Afghan evacuees following the U.S. troop withdrawal in 2021.
Rahmanullah Rakanwar, a 29-year-old from Afghanistan, allegedly opened fire on two National Guard members in Washington on Wednesday night.
The details of Rakanwar’s immigration status remain unclear, but he arrived through the operation, which received backing from both Democrats and many Republicans.
Concerns have been raised by whistleblowers and inspectors general regarding the Biden administration’s vetting processes for the Afghans resettled in American communities.
Just last year, a 27-year-old Afghan was arrested in Oklahoma for allegedly planning a terrorist attack on election day. This individual was also part of Biden’s resettlement program.
In a particularly troubling revelation, a former Pentagon official indicated in 2023 that some Afghans brought to the U.S. had previously been involved in planting IEDs in Afghanistan targeting American forces.
The Department of Homeland Security’s Inspector General released a significant report revealing that the Biden administration had imported Afghans who were inadequately vetted and may pose security risks.
A Pentagon report from February 2022 echoed these findings, stating that the administration did not effectively vet incoming Afghans, with about 50 individuals flagged for serious security concerns after their resettlement.
In 2022, Senators Josh Hawley and Ron Johnson outlined whistleblower claims indicating that the Biden administration purposely resettled nearly 400 Afghans identified as “potential threats” and urged officials to overlook proper vetting procedures.
