A refugee given a second chance in America after fleeing Afghanistan became a cautionary tale of failed integration, raising urgent questions about vetting and assimilation in the immigration system.

A Refugee System That Failed

Rahmanullah Lakanwal arrived in the United States in September 2021 as part of Operation Allies Welcome, the program designed to resettle Afghans who assisted American forces during the 20-year conflict with the Taliban. Like 500 other Afghans placed in Bellingham, Washington, Lakanwal received substantial taxpayer support including a $1,140-per-month apartment, food assistance, and social services. Yet four years later, he remained fundamentally disconnected from American society, unable to speak a single word of English and isolated from his community.

So Rahmanullah Lakanwal was living in an above-average apartment in Bellingham, Washington ($2k/month rent), supporting a family of a wife and five kids while working as a delivery driver making $25 bucks an hour. Even with refugee subsidies there's no way he could afford that.… pic.twitter.com/oLS2tCGN5y

— Diver 41 (Expose Them) (@ExposeDarkDeeds) November 28, 2025

Warning Signs Ignored

By January 2024, community activists had grown so concerned about Lakanwal’s deteriorating mental state that they contacted refugee organizations directly. Internal emails revealed he had stopped working in March 2023 and exhibited increasingly erratic behavior. His wife reported he would not speak to her for extended periods. When she visited relatives for a week, their children’s school flagged concerns about neglect—the kids were not being fed or bathed properly. Despite these red flags, the system granted him asylum and continued support.

Integration Failure and Isolation

Lakanwal’s daily existence reflected profound disconnection from American life. Neighbors at Walton Place apartment complex reported he rarely left his residence and spent most of his time playing computer games. When he attended the Islamic Society of Whatcom County mosque semi-regularly, he could only communicate basic Arabic greetings with other worshippers. He had been unemployed since August, previously working sporadically as an Amazon Flex driver. His inability or unwillingness to learn English created an impenetrable barrier to meaningful employment and community participation.

Tragedy and Policy Response

On November 27, 2025, Lakanwal opened fire on National Guard members near Washington, D.C., killing 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom and critically wounding 24-year-old Andrew Woolfe. The shooting prompted immediate policy action. The Trump administration halted all immigration from Afghanistan, suspended decisions on refugee status, and announced a permanent pause on migration from all Third World countries. Additionally, cases from 19 nations—including Afghanistan, Iran, Somalia, Haiti, Sudan, Yemen, Libya, and Venezuela—will be re-examined under new travel ban criteria.

Sources:

Afghan Man Charged with First-Degree Murder in DC National Guard Shooting

Refugee Group Was Warned That Rahmanullah Lakanwal Was Spiraling Into Mania—He Got Asylum Anyway

Alleged DC National Guard Shooter Felt Abandoned by CIA