Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has said her department believes that the Afghan national who shot two National Guard members in the nation’s capital on Wednesday could’ve been radicalized in the United States.
“I will say we believe he was radicalized since he’s been here in this country,” Noem said during an interview on NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday. “We do believe it was through connections in his home community and state. And we’re going to continue to talk to those who interacted with him.”
She did not provide further details, citing ongoing investigations. “I’ll let the FBI and DOJ reveal new information,” she said.
Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, is accused of opening fire on soldiers last week near the White House. The attack killed a female Guard member and left a male Guard member critically injured, in what authorities called a targeted attack. He has been charged with first-degree murder.
Lakanwal worked with a CIA-backed Afghan army unit during the Afghanistan War. In 2021, he entered the United States as part of Operation Allies Welcome after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. He was granted asylum by the Trump administration in April this year.
Noem was pressed during the interview on how such a radicalized individual could be granted asylum under Trump’s watch.
Noem pointed out that many refugees come from countries that don’t have a stable government to provide information to aid the U.S. government in conducting a proper vetting process.
She added that President Donald Trump is changing the entire vetting process to include reviewing activity on social media and using biometrics to confirm applicants’ identities.
The United States has paused all asylum decisions as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) oversees a reexamination of every Green Card holder from 19 high-risk countries of concern, including Afghanistan, Cuba, Haiti, Iran, Somalia, and Venezuela.
Noem warned that any individual who was aware of the ambush plot against the National Guard last week will be held accountable.
“Anyone who has information on this needs to know that we’ll be coming after you and we will bring you to justice,” she said.
