Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem faced intense scrutiny during a Sunday television appearance regarding the vetting process for an Afghan national accused of shooting two National Guard members in Washington, D.C.
Thanksgiving Eve Ambush Sparks Political Firestorm
The political controversy erupted after Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national who previously served in a CIA-backed Afghan Army unit, was charged with assault with intent to kill while armed and firearm possession during a crime of violence. The incident occurred on Thanksgiving eve in what authorities describe as an ambush attack targeting National Guard members.
Following the shooting, former President Donald Trump announced plans to "permanently pause migration from all third-world countries," setting the stage for Noem's defensive appearance on NBC News' "Meet the Press."
Noem's Deflection Strategy Exposed
During her interview with host Kristen Welker, Secretary Noem repeatedly shifted responsibility to the Biden administration, despite records showing Lakanwal received asylum approval in April 2025 during Trump's second term. The approval came through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, an agency within Noem's own Department of Homeland Security.
"We believe [the suspect] was radicalized since he's been here in this country," Noem claimed, adding that "we will never allow this to continue to happen in our country, allow individuals who came to our country that were unvetted by Joe Biden."
When pressed by Welker about why the Trump administration granted Lakanwal asylum, Noem ignored the direct question and continued criticizing Biden's 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal, which resulted in suicide attacks at Kabul's airport that killed 170 Afghans and 13 U.S. soldiers.
Vetting Process Questions Remain Unanswered
Welker challenged Noem's narrative by noting that Lakanwal would have undergone extensive vetting during his CIA tenure and again during his asylum process. The NBC host asked pointedly: "So, just to be very clear, was there a vetting process in place to approve that asylum request?"
Noem responded, "Yeah," but immediately qualified her answer by stating "The vetting process all happened under Joe Biden's administration" - a claim that appears factually inconsistent with the April 2025 asylum approval timeline.
When Welker pressed further, asking "But was he vetted when he was granted asylum?" Noem deflected again, claiming the vetting system "was completely abandoned under Joe Biden's administration."
The exchange highlights ongoing political tensions around immigration policy and national security as the administration faces questions about its handling of asylum cases and vetting procedures for individuals arriving from conflict zones.
