Kristi Noem, the top security official, asserted on the weekend that the individual in the military shooting in the nation's capital was turned to extremism within the US and blamed the current government, even though the suspect's asylum was granted under Donald Trump.
Background of the Shooting Suspect
The shooting suspect, 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, was granted protection under the Trump administration in April 2025. He had served alongside US-supported forces in the Middle Eastern nation, arriving in the US in late 2021 under an special immigration program.
It is our assessment extremism took hold after arriving within our borders,” the secretary said on NBC’s Meet the Press. “Our investigation indicates the influence came from connections in his home community and region, efforts will persist to talk to his contacts, who were his family members, who talk to them.”
Political Reactions and Asylum Scrutiny
The former leadership used the event as justification to halt and review asylum and green card petitions.
Noem claimed “screening occurs when they come into the country, a process entirely neglected by the current government”.
“Relevant screening data gathered under the present leadership,” stated she. “The vetting process were conducted during the current term.”
Deportation Operations and Judicial Challenges
Noem also refuted that she disobeyed a judge’s order when she authorized removal operations to El Salvador to proceed, instead blaming “partisan” and “extreme” judges.
These remarks came in response to inquiries on NBC’s Meet the Press on the weekend about whether Noem made the decision to continue the removal operations for migrants from Venezuela in recent months, as the federal legal agency has alleged.
“We’ll continue to do the right thing, continue to work and protect Americans, no matter what radical judge emerges and tries to stop us,” the secretary commented.
She also appeared on ABC’s This Week on Sunday, where she confirmed the operations were her decision.
“Yes, I made that decision as it fell within my jurisdiction in compliance with regulations and legal framework under presidential guidance focused on getting dangerous criminal terrorists and organized crime groups out of our country,” the secretary stated. “We face a partisan judicial figure and it is clear, you know, we’re still in litigation challenging this judicial intervention persistently attempting to stop us from protecting the American people.”
Judicial Claims and Compliance Investigation
The Department of Justice asserted the decision complied with the court mandate. Federal judge the presiding official in the capital had ordered deportation flights mid-flight turn back in March 2025, but the secretary ordered those operations already in the air transporting Venezuelan immigrants to the destination continue, with the legal agency stating the individuals were no longer in US territory.
The judge has been undergoing a compliance investigation into whether the Trump administration defied his spring judicial directive.
