National Guard incident: Afghan suspect pleads not guilty
In a new development in a case that has shaken the US capital, Rahmanullah Lakhanwal, the Afghan citizen suspected of shooting National Guard members in Washington, pleaded not guilty to the charges against him during a video hearing from his hospital bed where he is receiving treatment.
US media reported that Lacanwall, 29, who was shot by security forces during last week's attack near the White House, denied charges of first-degree murder and attempted murder. The incident resulted in the death of one National Guard member and injuries to another, prompting a large-scale security deployment in the heart of Washington, D.C.
Background of access and affiliation with the US military
The story dates back to August 2021, when Lacanwall arrived in the United States amidst the chaotic US withdrawal from Afghanistan during President Joe Biden's administration. Reports indicate that the accused was not an ordinary refugee, but rather a member of a CIA-backed "partner force" fighting the Taliban, which facilitated his entry through the evacuation programs designated for those cooperating with US forces.
This connection raises profound questions about the security vetting mechanisms that were followed during that critical period, as officials in President Donald Trump’s administration blame what they described as “lax vetting” by the previous administration, arguing that this allowed the entry of elements that could pose a threat to national security, despite Lacanwall having been officially granted asylum in April 2025.
Calls for the death penalty and political repercussions
On the legal front, Judge Renée Raymond ordered that Lacanwall remain in custody until his next hearing scheduled for January 14. In a significant escalation, prosecutor Pam Bondy announced her intention to seek the death penalty for the accused, given the gravity of the crime, which targeted military personnel at a sensitive location.
The repercussions of the incident didn't stop at the courtroom; they ignited a political and security crisis. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem called for expanding the list of countries subject to the travel ban, describing the current situation as flooding the country with "killers." The Trump administration is currently considering increasing the number of countries subject to travel restrictions from 19 to 30, a move aimed at tightening border security.
tense security context
This incident further intensifies the political polarization in Washington surrounding immigration and national security. The current list of restricted countries includes 19 nations, among them Afghanistan, Iran, Yemen, and Venezuela, and this incident is expected to accelerate the addition of new countries to the list, reflecting a radical shift in US immigration policy as a direct response to potential domestic threats.
