The nation is still processing the tragic Thanksgiving Eve attack that left one National Guardsman dead and another critically wounded in Washington, D.C., when the Department of Homeland Security confirmed a second alarming development: another Afghan national, also admitted to the United States under the 2021 Operation Allies Welcome program, was arrested just one day before the D.C. shooting for making what officials describe as “credible terroristic threats.”
The new arrest has renewed debate about vetting procedures, refugee screening, and the broader national security challenges that stem from large-scale emergency admissions. It has also deepened public concern, as the two incidents—though unrelated according to authorities—occurred within just 24 hours of each other and involved individuals who entered the country through the same resettlement pathway.
The arrest, which took place in Texas, involved 27-year-old Mohammad Dawood Alokozay, who was detained after posting a video on TikTok in which he allegedly described building an explosive device with the intent to target locations in the Fort Worth area. According to DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin, the video was flagged by social media monitors and quickly brought to the attention of law enforcement, leading to rapid apprehension before any harm could occur.
While officials have emphasized that Alokozay’s arrest is not linked to the Washington attack, the timing has nonetheless amplified public anxiety and intensified scrutiny of the screening process used during the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan. For many Americans, the fact that two individuals admitted during the same emergency resettlement window became subjects of criminal investigations within a single day feels deeply unsettling—especially on the heels of a holiday tragedy that has already shaken the country.
The D.C. Attack: A Nation in Mourning
The first incident, which occurred on Thanksgiving Eve, has drawn nationwide attention not only because of its brutality, but because the victims were members of the West Virginia National Guard serving on a security rotation in the capital.
At approximately 6:45 p.m. near the Farragut West Metro station—just blocks from the White House—29-year-old Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal opened fire on two uniformed Guardsmen: 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom and 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe. Both were struck multiple times. Bystanders rushed to help as emergency responders arrived, but Beckstrom succumbed to her injuries two days later. Wolfe remains hospitalized in critical condition.
Authorities say Lakanwal entered the United States legally in 2021 under humanitarian parole after the fall of Kabul, part of the expedited intake process created to move tens of thousands of Afghans out of the country during the U.S. withdrawal. Many of the evacuees had worked alongside U.S. forces, NGOs, or diplomatic agencies, and the process was designed to save lives as the Afghan government collapsed and the Taliban seized control.
But critics have argued that the speed of the evacuation resulted in inconsistencies in the vetting process—an issue that has resurfaced in light of recent events.
Federal officials say Lakanwal had no criminal history in the United States and was not on any known terrorism watchlists. The motive remains under investigation.
The Texas Arrest: A Red Flag Caught in Time
The second case, while unrelated to the D.C. shooting, has raised additional concerns because it appears to involve explicit threats—and because the suspect entered the U.S. under the same resettlement program.
According to DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin, law enforcement arrested Mohammad Dawood Alokozay on Tuesday after he posted a TikTok video claiming he was constructing an explosive device. The video reportedly included statements referencing the Fort Worth area as a potential target.
Authorities have not yet released details about materials found or whether Alokozay possessed any actual components for an explosive. The video alone was enough to trigger swift law enforcement action under federal statutes governing terroristic threats and bomb-making claims.
McLaughlin emphasized that the arrest likely prevented a dangerous situation from escalating further.
“This was a proactive interception,” she said. “We acted quickly based on the evidence available. At this time, there is no connection between this arrest and the tragic attack that occurred in Washington.”
Still, the similarities between the two cases—timing, immigration pathway, nationality—have led to renewed calls for a review of the emergency intake program used in 2021.
Operation Allies Welcome Under New Scrutiny
Operation Allies Welcome (OAW) was created during one of the most chaotic geopolitical moments in recent memory: the rapid collapse of the Afghan government, the return of the Taliban, and the mass evacuation effort at Kabul’s Hamid Karzai International Airport.
Over 75,000 Afghans were brought to the United States under humanitarian parole, with many awaiting or undergoing follow-up vetting, background checks, and permanent status reviews.
Supporters of the program argue that the overwhelming majority of evacuees were allies of the United States—interpreters, local employees, civil servants, and family members who faced serious risks after the Taliban takeover. They note that many have integrated peacefully into communities across the country, working, attending school, and rebuilding their lives.
But critics have repeatedly raised concerns that the speed of the evacuation created vulnerabilities in the vetting system. Limited record availability in Afghanistan, collapse of the country’s bureaucracy, and the urgency of the evacuation all contributed to what officials described as “imperfect conditions” for screening.
The two recent arrests have renewed pressure on federal agencies to provide clarity on:
- How many evacuees received full background checks
- Whether records were missing or incomplete
- Whether additional monitoring or follow-up occurred after arrival
- What criteria were used to determine eligibility
- How risk assessments were conducted during the evacuation
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have asked for updated figures and a detailed review of procedures, hoping to determine whether additional reforms or monitoring systems may be needed.
A Complex Debate About Risk and Responsibility
These incidents have reignited conversations about the balance between humanitarian obligations and national security responsibilities. Experts note that analyzing the numbers in context is important: tens of thousands of Afghans resettled in the United States have had no contact with law enforcement beyond routine procedures, and many have contributed to local communities.
Still, isolated incidents—especially violent or threatening ones—tend to shape public perception far more strongly than statistical norms.
Security analysts say that two cases in 24 hours, though unrelated, inevitably raise public concern.
“It doesn’t matter whether these individuals represent the majority or the minority,” one national security expert noted. “What matters is that serious threats were missed. Even one case is too many when the stakes are this high.”
Others caution against broad generalizations, arguing that the actions of a few should not be taken as representative of an entire population that has overwhelmingly been peaceful and law-abiding.
Calls for Transparency and Review
In response to public concern, several lawmakers have urged DHS and the FBI to release additional information about the two cases, including:
- How each individual was initially screened
- Whether any red flags were missed
- Whether new security measures are being implemented
- How many evacuees remain under review or pending status adjustments
DHS has not yet announced whether these incidents will prompt a formal reevaluation of the OAW vetting process, but officials have emphasized that efforts to identify potential threats remain ongoing.
A Nation Processing Two Shocking Events
The dual incidents—only hours apart—have highlighted the challenges of balancing compassion, emergency response, and national security. They have also intensified public anxiety during a holiday season already marked by tragedy.
While authorities continue to stress that the vast majority of Afghan evacuees pose no risk, the cases of Lakanwal and Alokozay underscore how critical effective vetting and monitoring can be. The coming days will likely bring additional statements from DHS, the White House, and congressional leaders as new details emerge.
For now, the nation continues to mourn the loss of Guardsman Sarah Beckstrom, hopes for the recovery of Andrew Wolfe, and watches closely as investigators work to determine how two dangerous individuals slipped through a system designed to prevent exactly this kind of situation.