On November 26, 2025, two soldiers from West Virginia National Guard — deployed to Washington, D.C. — were shot near the White House, at roughly 2:15 p.m. local time, near the corner of 17th and I Streets NW, close to the Farragut West Metro Station.
The attack is being described by officials as a “targeted ambush”.
The suspected shooter — also injured — was taken into custody at the scene and transported to hospital; his condition is reportedly serious, but not life-threatening.
Who’s involved: suspect, victims, and context?
The suspect has been identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national.
According to U.S. authorities, he entered the United States in 2021 under the post-Afghanistan-evacuation program.
The two guardsmen shot were part of a larger contingent deployed in D.C. as federal forces under an anti-crime and immigration-related directive by the U.S. administration earlier in 2025.
Aftermath & Significant Reactions:
The shooting triggered a rapid, multi-agency response: local police, federal agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the U.S. Secret Service, and emergency medical services. The nearby area was locked down briefly, including heightened security around White House perimeter.
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that — in response — it is halting indefinitely all immigration and resettlement requests from Afghan nationals.
The political reaction was swift: Donald Trump — U.S. President — condemned the attack as “an act of terror,” and vowed to re-evaluate Afghan immigrants admitted during the earlier evacuation period.
Broader significance — Security, immigration & politics:
The incident underscores the volatility and risk tied to deploying National Guard/federal troops in civilian areas for domestic security, especially in major cities. The deployment itself had been controversial, with critics arguing it may violate domestic laws restricting military presence in routine law enforcement.
The shooting has immediately impacted immigration policy: by suspending Afghan immigration requests, the U.S. government signaled a more cautious — possibly restrictive — approach to resettlement and asylum for Afghans who came after the 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Politically, this may heighten tensions around immigration, national-security legislation, and civil-military boundary debates in the U.S. Government action and public sentiment could shift accordingly, with potential impact on future asylum rules, vetting mechanisms, and refugee resettlement programs.
