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Rahmanullah Lakanwal’s arrival in the US and the Allies Welcome programme

The 29-year-old Afghan, suspected of the shooting near the White House, had arrived in the United States through the resettlement programme launched by Biden

Rahmanullah Lakanwal, the 29-year-old Afghan accused of seriously injuring two National Guard soldiers near the White House, arrived in the United States through the Allies Welcome programme, launched by Joe Biden in August 2021 to protect Afghans at risk after the withdrawal of US forces and the return to power of the Taliban.

According to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Lakanwal arrived on 8 September 2021. He applied for asylum in 2024 and was granted it in April this year, under the Trump administration. The majority of Afghans accepted through the Allies Welcome programme initially received temporary two-year permits without immediate entitlement to permanent residence.

Many, like Lakanwal, then applied for Special Immigrant Visas because of their service to US forces in Afghanistan. Family testimonies report that Lakanwal worked for ten years alongside US special forces, including at the Kandahar base.

In 2022, the Allies Welcome programme became “Enduring Welcome”, confirming assistance to Afghans and their integration into refugee resettlement programmes. Over 190,000 Afghans have settled in the US through these programmes. With Donald Trump’s return to the White House, however, the rules on resettlement have been revised, leaving many Afghans without support.

According to the organisation AfghanEvac, approximately 260,000 Afghans are still waiting for visas to enter the US, many of whom face persecution in Afghanistan or live in third countries such as Pakistan. After the shooting, Trump criticised Biden, accusing him of allowing the entry of “20 million unknown and unchecked foreigners” and calling for a review of all those who arrived through programmes launched by the Democratic administration.

In reality, all Afghans welcomed after the fall of Kabul underwent intelligence and counter-terrorism checks, often several times, before leaving the country and before entering the US from transit countries. In recent days, the American media has revealed that the Trump administration has initiated a review of more than 230,000 refugees welcomed over the last five years.

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