by L Richardson
The Biden administration’s failed vetting of the Afghan National Guard shooter shows our government’s dangerous negligence. Since 2021, authorities have flagged more than 5,000 Afghan nationals brought to the United States as potential national security threats. These aren’t mere allegations but documented facts. Operation Allies Welcome has transformed into Operation Welcome Terrorists right before our eyes.
Federal authorities discovered “potential derogatory information” about 6,868 people who arrived from Afghanistan during President Biden’s rushed withdrawal. The findings revealed 5,005 individuals with national security concerns, while 956 raised “public safety” concerns. What’s more, the recent National Guard shooting involved an Afghan who entered our country legally under humanitarian parole through this same botched operation. Our nation’s security and sovereignty hang in the balance while this vetting disaster continues unchecked. When will we stop putting American lives at risk?
Thesis:
America’s national security faces a breaking point. The Biden administration let nearly 190,000 unvetted Afghan aliens into our country. They checked who these people were and what they wanted only after they walked freely on American soil [1]. This breach of our sovereign borders goes against every sound immigration policy principle. It directly attacks our constitutional right to secure borders.
Facts paint a clear picture. Three Afghan nationals who came in through Biden’s “Operation Allies Welcome” program got arrested on terrorism charges in just one week [1]. This wasn’t random – it shows what happens when policies put political image ahead of American lives.
The timeline tells a story of betrayal. Mohammad Dawood Alokozay entered America under Operation Allies Welcome. Local authorities and the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force arrested him on November 25, 2025, for making bomb threats in Fort Worth, Texas [1]. The next day, Rahmanullah Lakanwal attacked two National Guard members near the White House [1]. A third Afghan national terrorist who came through the same program ended up in immigration custody [1].
The Biden administration created one of the worst national security crises in American history [1]. They refused to properly screen people entering our country. Operation Allies Welcome turned into a Trojan horse that let potential terrorists slip into our homeland.
Our founding fathers knew a country needs secure borders to exist. The Constitution promises security and peace at home. This promise means nothing when our government ignores simple screening standards. Patriots who believe in America First principles just need quick action against this threat to our existence.
The America First approach seeks an immigration system that prioritizes border security and the value of citizenship [2]. We risk American lives and weaken our national power if we do less. Republican officials made it simple: “They came in, they were unvetted, they were unchecked” [3].
Vice President JD Vance warned us in 2021. He “criticized the Biden policy of opening the floodgate to unvetted Afghan refugees” [3]. People dismissed his concerns then, but recent attacks and arrests show he was right.
A 2022 audit by the Office of Inspector General revealed significant flaws in the screening of Afghan evacuees. The report found problems with basic information used to screen people through US Government databases [3]. US Customs and Border Protection “admitted or paroled evacuees who were not fully vetted into the United States” [3].
These aren’t small mistakes – they put lives at risk. Every American community becomes unsafe when our government fails to screen people properly.
1:
Image Source: Police1
The connection between Rahmanullah Lakanwal and other Afghan terrorists reveals a vetting system that has completely collapsed. Lakanwal, the 29-year-old Afghan national who gunned down two National Guard members near the White House, wasn’t just any refugee. He was a former member of a CIA-trained strike force in Afghanistan [4]. This supposedly “vetted” individual drove thousands of miles from Washington state to Washington, DC, to carry out what officials called an “ambush-style” attack on American service members [5].
This attack becomes more concerning as it happened among other terrorist plots by Afghan nationals who entered through the same flawed program. The Biden administration assured us that these individuals underwent proper vetting. These supposed “allies” turned their weapons against us instead of protecting Americans.
Lakanwal’s jihadist ambush didn’t just create statistics – it destroyed young American lives sworn to defend our Constitution. Sarah Beckstrom’s life ended at just 20 years old from Lakanwal’s bullets [4]. Andrew Wolfe, 24, fights for his life in critical condition [5]. These brave National Guard members showed America’s best qualities through their dedication to service and willingness to protect fellow citizens.
Fellow Patriots, we can’t just talk anymore—Biden’s open-border betrayal has brought jihadist wolves like Rahmanullah Lakanwal and Mohammad Dawood Alokozay here. They endanger our sacred Constitution’s promise of security, liberty, and sovereignty for American citizens first.
FBI director Kash Patel explained this crisis bluntly. The previous administration “made the decision to allow thousands of people into this country without doing a single piece of background checking or vetting” [6]. Biden officials claimed that Afghans underwent “rigorous” vetting. A 2022 Department of Homeland Security Inspector General report proved otherwise.
US Customs and Border Protection’s actions shocked everyone. They “admitted or paroled evacuees who were not fully vetted into the United States” [3]. The vetting process either missed or provided incorrect information on names, dates of birth, and identification numbers [3]. This wasn’t just a mistake – it became a disaster that cost American lives.
The vetting system’s collapse goes beyond Lakanwal. The Justice Department’s report found that 55 Afghan evacuees on the terrorist watchlist made it to US ports of entry. Others were added to the watchlist during evacuation and resettlement [7]. Dozens of potential terrorists walked onto American soil.
The administration’s knowledge makes this worse. A September 2022 report warned that “DHS may have admitted or paroled individuals into the United States who pose a risk to national security and the safety of local communities” [8]. The Biden administration kept bringing inadequately vetted individuals from an anti-American region.
Libertarians see this as big government’s worst failure. It reaches globally while failing to protect Americans at home. Many libertarians predicted in 2021 that rushed evacuations without proper checks would create security disasters [9]. Federal agencies ignored restraint and prudence, undermining our sovereignty and endangering Americans.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe’s confirmation adds worry. Lakanwal worked with “CIA-backed local units in Afghanistan” [6]. This vetting credential meant nothing – or worse, it created false security while letting a threat enter. Our protective agencies enabled those wanting to harm us.
The Trump administration responded by stopping all Afghan national immigration requests [2]. USCIS Director Joseph Edlow spoke clearly: “Yesterday’s horrific events make it abundantly clear the Biden administration spent the last four years dismantling basic vetting and screening standards, prioritizing the rapid resettlement of aliens from high-risk countries over the safety of American citizens” [2].
New rules now let officials consider negative factors specific to 19 high-risk countries when vetting aliens [2]. But past damage needs more fixes.
Thousands of poorly vetted Afghans still live freely in America. Representative Massie highlighted in 2021 that Biden’s program “greatly expand[ed] the number of visas and… include[d] categories of people who did not help us in the war, while simultaneously reducing the vetting of these immigrants” [10].
Government files show that Akanwal received asylum approval in April 2025, after applying in December 2024 [6]. The system still failed even after the initial chaos. Each day without fixing these gaps puts Americans at risk.
Sarah Beckstrom’s death and Andrew Wolfe’s fight for life demand accountability. Every Afghan evacuee needs new vetting with strict standards, putting American security first. Those failing verification must leave – not from lack of compassion, but because protecting citizens comes first.
Operation Allies Welcome needs complete audits for everyone who entered. The government must explain how they vetted these people, what warnings they missed, and who takes responsibility for these failures. This isn’t politics – it’s about stopping another preventable tragedy like Sarah Beckstrom’s death.
2:
A flood of unvetted threats has entered our homeland, beyond the single shooter incident. Federal records show a shocking 5,005 Afghans flagged for national security concerns came into our country under Biden’s watch [7]. This isn’t about a few bad apples – our nation faces a systematic infiltration that threatens its very foundation.
The Election Day terror plot discovered in Oklahoma City shows exactly what we’re facing. Afghan national Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, 27, recently admitted his guilt. He planned a mass-casualty attack for ISIS on November 5, 2024 [11]. Court documents prove he tried to buy two AK-47 rifles, 500 rounds of ammunition, and 10 magazines to kill innocent Americans during voting [11].
Attorney General Pamela Bondi stated, “By pledging allegiance to ISIS and plotting an attack against innocent Americans on Election Day, this defendant endangered lives and gravely betrayed the nation that gave him refuge” [11]. This case becomes even more troubling because Tawhedi worked with another Afghan national – his 18-year-old co-conspirator, Abdullah Haji Zada, who lived legally in America [12].
We can’t stay quiet while unvetted threats spill more innocent blood. This affects us all – conservatives protecting Judeo-Christian values, nationalists defending our homeland, constitutionalists supporting Article IV’s border mandates, libertarians fighting big-government overreach, and Republicans asking for accountability.
Biden’s administration keeps claiming thorough vetting, but facts tell a different story. A Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General report revealed that federal officials “did not always have critical data” to properly screen Afghan refugees [13]. This wasn’t just a mistake – it showed systematic negligence that put American lives at risk.
Biden and Mayorkas let potential terrorists onto American soil without proper screening. Their actions went beyond incompetence – they showed reckless disregard for safety.
Rep. Jeff Van Drew confronted Mayorkas head-on: “In my mind, this makes your actions criminal,” he said. “Secretary Mayorkas, you must resign. Will you resign?” [14]
Mayorkas refused, and Van Drew responded firmly: “It leaves us with no other way… You should be impeached.” [14]
The danger level has reached new heights. Federal authorities now search for more than 1,860 Afghans across the country with final deportation orders who remain free [15]. These people – already marked for deportation by our justice system – still walk among us, posing ongoing risks to our communities.
Secretary Noem stated clearly that “there are recipients who have been under investigation for fraud and threatening our public safety and national security” [16]. She added that “permitting Afghan nationals to remain temporarily in the United States is contrary to the national interest of the United States” [16].
3:
CIA-vetted “allies” have now turned their weapons against the very nation that rescued them from Taliban rule. Rahmanullah Lakanwal, the Afghan national who shot two American heroes near the White House, wasn’t just another refugee. The CIA recruited him specifically to Unit 03 of the Kandahar Strike Force, known locally as Scorpion Forces [17]. His former commander described him as a “sporty and jolly character” – a GPS tracker specialist who seemed to represent the best among Afghan evacuees [17].
CIA Director John Ratcliffe spoke bluntly about this betrayal: “The individual, and so many others, should have never been allowed to come here. Our citizens and service members deserve far better than to endure the ongoing fallout from the Biden administration’s catastrophic failures” [8]. This damning assessment comes from the head of America’s premier intelligence agency. This institution understands the consequences of government overreach, including the admission of dangerous individuals into our homeland.
FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed Lakanwal’s ties, noting the suspect “had a relationship in Afghanistan with partner forces” before moving to the US [17]. This supposedly elite vetting credential proved useless. The government’s misplaced trust in Lakanwal led to the murder of National Guard member Sarah Beckstrom, just 20 years old, and left 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe critically wounded [17].
The premeditation chills to the bone. Lakanwal drove thousands of miles from Washington state to Washington, DC, specifically targeting Americans in uniform [17]. On November 26, he arrived at Farragut West Metro Station at 2:13 p.m. and shot two National Guard members without warning [17]. Court documents show both Beckstrom and Wolfe suffered gunshot wounds to the head. Witnesses heard Lakanwal scream “Allahu Akbar!” during his attack [18].
Libertarians see this betrayal as proof that government programs need objective criteria for disqualification rather than subjective character assessments. The government reviewed Lakanwal’s past service but failed to implement robust, ongoing vetting that might have detected his radicalization.
President Trump’s decision to pause all Afghan immigration requests while security and vetting protocols undergo “further review” marks a crucial first step toward restoring national security [19]. The Department of Homeland Security plans to “re-review and re-interview immigrants from these countries, potentially going as far back as 2021” [19].
A DHS spokesperson stated the administration’s stance clearly: “The Trump Administration is making every effort to ensure individuals becoming citizens are the best of the best. Citizenship is a privilege, not a right” [19]. This captures the America First principle that our immigration system must help Americans, not put them at risk.
The CIA’s vetting of Afghan evacuees shows federal overreach at its most dangerous. The agency conducted polygraphs on partner unit members to identify potential Taliban allies or anti-American sentiments [20]. They kept “extensive biometric data, including retinal scans” [20]. Yet these elaborate systems failed to protect Americans from a traitor.
A senior intelligence official noted the CIA “was diligent in promoting the immigration cases of all the people it worked with, and had a dedicated team to help them settle in the United States” [20]. This push to bring them in overlooked a fundamental question: Would these individuals stay loyal to America after arriving?
Rise up NOW: Contact your congressional reps and demand immediate mass deportations of high-risk Afghans, complete audits of Operation Allies Welcome, and ironclad vetting reforms under President Trump’s America First agenda.
Security experts now reveal that many Afghan evacuees received “at best, very, very superficial vetting” or “probably weren’t vetted at all.” This negligence brought not just attacks on National Guard members but also “criminal gangs moving in” to our communities.
The DC shooting sparked vital policy changes. The Trump administration halted visa reviews for people from Afghanistan, including special immigrant visas meant for those who allegedly helped the US military and allies [18]. The pause covers 18 other high-risk countries too [19].
Sarah Beckstrom’s family grieves knowing these policy changes came too late. This young patriot swore to defend our Constitution against all enemies. She never imagined those enemies would include people our government had vouched for. Her murder shows the ultimate cost of government overreach and negligence.
Andrew Wolfe fights for his life, showing minor signs of hope. His family reported that he responded to a nurse with a thumbs-up and wiggled his toes [18]. Americans must ask: How many more Andrew Wolfes will be shot before we secure our homeland?
Lakanwal’s betrayal grows more infuriating with new details. Court documents filed Tuesday revealed both victims suffered gunshot wounds to the head [18]. This wasn’t random – it was a calculated execution of Americans in uniform.
Some refugee advocates try to deflect blame from the Biden administration’s vetting failures amid the justified outrage. One resettlement volunteer claimed Lakanwal showed no signs of radicalization but might have had mental health issues [18]. They worried he might harm himself since he “spent a lot of time alone in his bedroom without speaking to his wife and kids” [18].
This excuse misses the point entirely. Whether driven by jihadist ideology, mental instability, or both, Lakanwal should never have stayed in America if he posed any risk to our citizens.
Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson stated after the attack: “Defending our homeland and rescuing America’s greatest cities from endemic violence is the highest and best use of our military” [18]. All Guard members in DC will now carry weapons to protect themselves [18]. Our failed immigration policies have turned our nation’s capital into hostile territory because of imported threats.
Conclusion:
The facts are clear. Biden’s failed vetting process has let a jihadist threat loose on American soil, and now American blood has been shed. Our nation faces a security crisis like never before, with over 5,000 Afghan nationals flagged for security concerns now living freely in our communities. Sarah Beckstrom was just 20 years old when she lost her life to this negligence. Andrew Wolfe now fights to survive because our government cares more about looking good than keeping Americans safe. These National Guard members deserved better than becoming victims of failed immigration policies.
We must see this crisis for what it is – a direct attack on our right to secure borders and peace at home. Swift deportation of high-risk individuals isn’t just the right choice – it’s the only way to stay true to our founding principles. The Trump administration’s quick halt to immigration from 19 high-risk countries is a good start. Still, it’s not enough with thousands of poorly vetted people already here. American lives matter more than misplaced sympathy for those we can’t properly screen.
Spread this message on X, Facebook, and Truth Social. Tag @realDonaldTrump, @KristiNoem, @ChuckGrassley, @SenTedCruz, and @RepJeffVanDrew to help get the word out! A Republican vote in every election will save our Republic from this globalist mess. Your actions today will protect our freedoms tomorrow. We can’t let another Guardsman fall. Time is running out. Critics might call these worries xenophobic, but they can’t deny Lakanwal’s bullets or Alokozay’s bomb threats. This goes beyond politics – our nation’s survival hangs in the balance.
We’re past the point of compromise. Every Afghan brought here under Operation Allies Welcome needs immediate re-vetting, followed by quick deportation of anyone who poses even a small risk. If we don’t act, Sarah Beckstrom’s death could be just the beginning of preventable American losses. Our government’s first duty is protecting American citizens – not bringing in threats that weaken our security and independence. Our nation remains vulnerable until we remove every potential threat from our soil.
References
[3] – https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly3e1261dko
[5] – https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly0jez2dl4o
[7] – https://oig.justice.gov/sites/default/files/reports/25-056.pdf
[8] – https://www.factcheck.org/2025/12/qa-on-vetting-of-accused-national-guard-shooter/
[9] – https://reason.com/2021/08/27/libertarians-correctly-predicted-the-afghanistan-fiasco/
[10] – https://www.newsweek.com/afghan-nationals-us-national-guard-shooting-11119679
[18] – https://www.npr.org/2025/12/02/nx-s1-5627502/national-guard-shooting-latest
[19] – https://www.npr.org/2025/12/03/g-s1-100218/trump-administration-halts-immigration-19-nations
[20] – https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/29/us/politics/afghans-cia-vetting.html
[22] – https://x.com/FoxNews/status/1994814045543661754?s=20
[31] – https://www.foxnews.com/category/us/washington-dc
[32] – https://www.foxnews.com/category/world/terrorism
[33] – https://www.foxnews.com/category/person/donald-trump
[35] – https://www.foxnews.com/category/us/disasters/refugees
[36] – https://www.foxnews.com/category/world/conflicts/afghanistan
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