VOI World/ Desk
A 29-year-old Afghan national, identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, allegedly opened fire near the White House in Washington, D.C., targeting two members of the West Virginia National Guard during a daytime patrol. The Guard members were critically wounded and rushed to hospital; the suspect was shot by officers and taken into custody with non-life-threatening injuries.
Officials have described the shooting as a “targeted attack.” The suspected shooter reportedly entered the U.S. in 2021 under the 2021 Afghan resettlement programme and was granted asylum earlier in 2025.
The incident has reignited sharp debate in Washington. Donald Trump, now U.S. President, labelled the attack an “act of terror” and called it a “crime against humanity,” blaming what he described as lax vetting standards under previous refugee policies. He also ordered deployment of 500 additional National Guard troops to the capital.
In response, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced an immediate freeze on processing all immigration or asylum requests from Afghan nationals pending a complete review of vetting and security procedures.
Investigations are ongoing as authorities examine motive, background and possible links. The shooting near a high-security zone has again sparked discussions on immigration oversight, refugee vetting, and national security – issues likely to influence U.S. policy in the coming days.
