US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has claimed that Rahmanullah Lakanwal, the suspect in the recent national guard shooting in Washington DC, was "radicalized" while living in the US. She made this statement during an appearance on NBC's Meet the Press, citing connections within his home community and state as a potential source of influence.
Lakanwal, 29, had been granted asylum under the Trump administration in April 2025, following work with CIA-backed units in Afghanistan. He arrived in the US in September 2021 under an Operation Allies Welcome program.
Noem's comments have drawn criticism from some who point out that Lakanwal was approved for asylum during a period when vetting procedures were relaxed under the Trump administration. She claimed that the Biden administration had abandoned these processes, despite having collected all relevant information prior to its takeover.
In a related development, Noem has been accused of defying a judge's order regarding deportation flights to El Salvador. The Department of Justice has said that her decision not to return Venezuelan immigrants already in transit did not violate the court's instructions. However, US district judge James Boasberg is currently conducting a contempt inquiry into whether the Trump administration deliberately disregarded his March court order.
Noem has pushed back against these allegations, suggesting that judges are "activist" who prioritize their own agendas over national security concerns. Her comments have sparked debate about border control and the vetting process for asylum seekers in the US.
Lakanwal, 29, had been granted asylum under the Trump administration in April 2025, following work with CIA-backed units in Afghanistan. He arrived in the US in September 2021 under an Operation Allies Welcome program.
Noem's comments have drawn criticism from some who point out that Lakanwal was approved for asylum during a period when vetting procedures were relaxed under the Trump administration. She claimed that the Biden administration had abandoned these processes, despite having collected all relevant information prior to its takeover.
In a related development, Noem has been accused of defying a judge's order regarding deportation flights to El Salvador. The Department of Justice has said that her decision not to return Venezuelan immigrants already in transit did not violate the court's instructions. However, US district judge James Boasberg is currently conducting a contempt inquiry into whether the Trump administration deliberately disregarded his March court order.
Noem has pushed back against these allegations, suggesting that judges are "activist" who prioritize their own agendas over national security concerns. Her comments have sparked debate about border control and the vetting process for asylum seekers in the US.
. I mean, come on, if you're gonna make a comment like that about someone being "radicalized" in the States, at least have some context about how they were radicalized... or better yet, don't say anything that paints an entire community as evil. And can we talk about vetting procedures for a second? Noem's all like "we've abandoned our processes", but like, which process exactly did you abandon? The one where we check people's backgrounds and stuff?
I mean, Rahmanullah's story is really tragic - he went through so much in Afghanistan, only to come here seeking refuge & still face this kind of scrutiny. We should be supporting people fleeing persecution & war, not jumping to conclusions about their "radicalization". The fact that his asylum was granted during a relaxed vetting period doesn't mean we should just write him off. Let's get real, we need better systems in place for vetting refugees, but let's also keep in mind that mistakes can happen. We need compassion & understanding, not finger-pointing 
. I mean, what does it really mean to be "radicalized" anyway? Is it just a fancy term for someone who's been shaped by their environment and experiences? And what about the asylum seekers like Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who were already vulnerable before they even set foot in the US? It feels like we're more focused on security measures than actually helping people who need our help 
.
. But didn't he get asylum during the Trump admin, when things were kinda lax? I guess that makes sense for him to be approved? 
... it's all just so complicated and frustrating 
. I don't know, maybe I'm just not understanding the bigger picture? Can someone explain this to me in simple terms? 
. and btw, what's with all these deportation flights to el salvador? is it really that hard to follow the rules? 
, this whole thing is getting crazy 
! I mean, Noem's accusing Lakanwal of being radicalized just 'cause he's got ties to his homeland? That sounds like a total stretch 
. And what about the fact that his asylum was approved during a time when vetting procedures were, like, super lax? It's all so suspicious 
. We need to be careful not to let fear and politics get in the way of justice.
, and I'm low-key fascinated by it 
. Can't wait to see how this all plays out 
!
. Like, didn't they do their job properly in the first place? 
.
. Like, Trump was in office like, two years ago... shouldn't we have figured out some of these issues by now? 