Taliban Foe Turned US Resident Accused of Shooting National Guard Members, Raising Questions About Refugee Vetting

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A 76,000-strong Afghan refugee program, launched after the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, has come under scrutiny following a shooting incident involving an individual who was part of the program. The program, called Operation Allies Welcome, was created to provide a safe haven for Afghan interpreters, translators, and fighters who opposed the Taliban. According to authorities, the accused shooter, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, was granted asylum in April under the Trump administration. Lakanwal worked with the CIA as a member of a partner force in Kandahar, a Taliban stronghold in southern Afghanistan. Critics, including former President Donald Trump, have raised concerns about the vetting process for refugees, claiming it was chaotic and poorly planned. However, groups that help resettle Afghans argue that the actions of one individual should not reflect negatively on the tens of thousands who have gone through the legal pathways to resettling in the US. Many Afghan refugees have been resettled in established communities, with some, like Mohammad Saboor, a father of seven, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to start a new life. The shooting incident has reignited a debate about refugee policies, with Trump calling for a review of all Afghan refugees who entered the country under Operation Allies Welcome. Trump has also vowed to remove anyone who 'does not belong here or does not add benefit to our country.' The incident has sparked concerns about the vetting process and the potential risks associated with welcoming refugees from war-torn countries.