Trump Department of Homeland Security Approved Asylum for Afghan Shooter, Sparks Heated Exchange in Congress
A heated argument broke out in the US Congress after it was confirmed that the asylum of an Afghan national accused of killing a National Guard member was approved under the Trump administration’s Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The issue came up during a House Homeland Security Committee hearing on December 11, 2025, where DHS Secretary Kristi Noem was questioned by lawmakers about the case.
The Shooting Incident
The case involves Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national charged with shooting two members of the West Virginia National Guard in Washington, D.C., on November 26, 2025. One Guardsman was killed, while the other was seriously injured.
The attack caused shock across the country and quickly became a political issue, with questions raised about immigration screening and asylum policies.
How Lakanwal Entered the US
According to official records, Lakanwal entered the United States in September 2021 under Operation Allies Welcome, a humanitarian parole programme launched after the US withdrawal from Afghanistan.
He later applied for asylum in 2024. His asylum request was approved in April 2025, after President Donald Trump began his second term on January 20, 2025, and after Kristi Noem had taken charge as DHS Secretary.
Multiple media organisations have confirmed that the asylum approval took place under the Trump-led DHS.
Heated Exchange in Congress
During the hearing, Democratic Representative Bennie Thompson, the ranking member of the committee, challenged Secretary Noem over public statements made by Trump officials blaming the shooting on former President Joe Biden’s immigration policies.
Thompson directly asked Noem who approved Lakanwal’s asylum. As Noem began talking about the Afghan’s original entry into the US in 2021, Thompson interrupted and demanded a clear answer.
He stated that the asylum was approved by “your DHS” and warned that avoiding the question could amount to misleading Congress. The exchange became tense, with both speaking over each other at times, before the committee chair stepped in to restore order.
Noem’s Response
Secretary Noem did not deny that the asylum approval happened in 2025. However, she argued that the real problem started earlier, under the Biden administration, when Lakanwal was first allowed into the country.
She also suggested that any radicalisation may have happened after his arrival in the US, and that weaknesses in the original vetting process were responsible for the tragedy.
Media and Political Reactions
Left-leaning media outlets described Noem’s response as evasive and accused her of refusing to accept responsibility. Some reports said she appeared under pressure during the questioning.
More neutral and conservative outlets reported the facts of the exchange without using strong language, noting that Noem continued to place blame on earlier immigration decisions rather than the asylum approval itself.
Wider Impact
Following the shooting, the Trump administration announced reviews of Afghan-related immigration and asylum processes. Officials said changes were needed to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Democrats, however, stressed that while Lakanwal entered the US in 2021, the final legal protection was granted in 2025, making the Trump administration directly responsible for the asylum decision.
Conclusion
The controversy highlights deep political divisions over immigration and national security in the United States. While the facts show that Lakanwal’s asylum was approved under Trump’s DHS, the debate continues over whether responsibility lies with the administration that allowed his entry or the one that granted him asylum.
The case is now likely to remain a key issue in future congressional debates on immigration policy and security screening.
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