WASHINGTON – In the latest development highlighting potential vulnerabilities within the U.S. program to resettle Afghan nationals brought home after the military withdrawal, concerns have surfaced regarding the families of those who migrated.
Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin has drawn attention to the possibility that Taliban control over Afghanistan might still exploit these families as leverage against individuals among the approximately 70,000 Afghans resettled in the United States. This concern comes following an incident where Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national admitted under ‘Operation Allies Welcome’, shot and injured two members of the National Guard near Washington, D.C., last Wednesday.
Mullin’s statement underscores a persistent fear that even with vetting procedures intended to ensure safety, families left behind could potentially be held hostage by the Taliban. The attack raises questions about whether leverage tactics were indeed involved for this specific individual or if broader systemic issues exist regarding how tens of thousands entered American homes under the previous administration.
While the connection between Lakanwal’s family situation and his actions was not definitively established, Senator Mullin highlighted that such incidents “raise some serious concerns.” The incident has led to an indefinite suspension of all pending immigration requests from Afghans by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), effective immediately following the review prompted by President Trump.
This move follows calls from various voices for a reassessment of Afghan migration processes, particularly those individuals brought into the country during the tenure of former President Joe Biden.
Disclaimer: This article is based solely on public records and official statements regarding security reviews for Afghan nationals resettled in the United States.
