US Resettlement Program at Center of DC Shooting: What is Operation Allies Welcome?

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A 29-year-old Afghan national, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, has been identified as the suspect in a recent Washington, D.C. shooting. According to law enforcement sources, Lakanwal entered the US through Operation Allies Welcome (OAW), a program launched by the Department of Homeland Security in August 2021 to resettle Afghans who had aided US forces during the 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan. The program aimed to provide a safe haven for 'vulnerable Afghans', including interpreters, embassy staff, and those at risk due to their association with US forces. To facilitate resettlement, the OAW program involved rigorous screening by multiple agencies, including the intelligence community, FBI, DHS, and the US Department of Defense. Despite these efforts, concerns have been raised about the vetting process, with critics arguing that the urgency of evacuation compromised thorough screening. A recent report by the DOJ's Office of Inspector General noted that the rapid pace of the resettlement effort increased the risk of 'bad actors' slipping into the country. The OAW program has brought tens of thousands of Afghan evacuees to the US under humanitarian parole or related visa programs, with many relocated from temporary bases to communities across the country. The case of Rahmanullah Lakanwal has reignited public and political debate over the national security risks associated with the 2021 resettlement effort, with former President Joe Biden facing criticism for the program's implementation.