Vice President JD Vance has consistently voiced strong concerns regarding the vetting process for refugees, especially in light of the U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. His warnings have gained renewed attention following the recent shooting of two National Guard troops in Washington. The shooter, identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national, entered the United States legally under the Operation Allies Welcome program aimed at resettling Afghan refugees.
In the past, Vance critiqued the necessity of effectively vetting individuals seeking refuge. “Yes, let’s help the Afghans that helped us, but let’s ensure that we’re properly vetting them, so that we don’t get a bunch of people who believe they should blow themselves up at a mall because somebody looked at their wife the wrong way,” he stated in a video from 2021. This remark underscores his concern over the potential dangers posed by unvetted refugees, a sentiment that resonates in the wake of troubling incidents connected with this demographic.
A Pew Research Center survey, which Vance referenced, purportedly indicated that four in ten Afghans view suicide bombing as justified in defense of Islam. While Fox News Digital could not independently verify this poll, it echoes findings from 2013 reported by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. However, notable critiques from within Afghanistan’s religious community have issued rulings against suicide attacks as incompatible with Islamic doctrine.
In a recent interview, Vance reiterated his skepticism about the refugee vetting process. “We have vetting problems with a lot of these refugee programs; we absolutely cannot unleash thousands of unvetted people into our country,” he insisted. His position is underscored by the high-profile case of Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, another Afghan national who pleaded guilty to terrorism charges related to a planned attack in 2024. Tawhedi’s arrest, alongside his co-conspirator Abdullah Haji Zada, highlighted significant concerns about the adequacy of the vetting process.
Following the shooting incident, which left U.S. Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom dead and U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe critically injured, Vance reiterated his stance, stating, “I remember back in 2021 criticizing the Biden policy of opening the floodgates to unvetted Afghan refugees.” He noted that his critics labeled him a racist at that time, which he characterized as a “clarifying moment.” This reflects a broader public anxiety regarding national security that has intensified with violent incidents tied to refugee resettlement.
Vance indicated that concrete actions to improve the vetting process for refugees will be necessary. He emphasized that “many of our voters will demand not just words, but action,” which suggests a call for policy shifts in response to mounting security concerns. His proposed measures include not only seeking justice for the victims of the shooting but also reinforcing efforts to deport individuals deemed to have no rightful place in the U.S.
These developments unfold amid larger discussions around immigration and refugee resettlement, areas that remain contentious in public discourse. As the government grapples with these issues, Vance’s remarks and the tragic shooting incident serve as stark reminders of the potential consequences of insufficient vetting and policy implementation moving forward.
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