Commentary

Former President Biden allowed some 20 million migrants to flow into our country, some with asylum promises but most of them illegally.  Now, not a day goes by that we don’t read about an illegal migrant responsible for killing someone in a vehicle accident, transporting drugs or involvement in a heinous killing.

This week, we saw the result of Biden’s decision to allow thousands of refugees to come to the U.S. during his flawed withdrawal from Afghanistan, which he described as an “extraordinary success.”  Two West Virginia National Guard troops were ambushed by a refuge while on duty in Washington DC.  One has died and the other is hospitalized in critical decision.

The Withdrawal

Of course, we recall the 13 American service members killed by a terrorist exploding a vest at the vulnerable Abby Gate airport during that withdrawal.

“It was the largest airlift conducted in U.S. history, and it was executed in 17 days.  Was it perfect?  Of course not.” – Sec. Def. Lloyd Austin

“I have a lot of regrets about how it ended in Afghanistan. I have a regret with the basic decision, which I think was the wrong decision. And I particularly regret that we did not choose to begin to evacuate our people, our embassy personnel, our American citizens and our at-risk Afghans at the time we made the decision to bring in our combat forces. I think that was a serious mistake, and I think that led to the events of August 2021 directly.” – Gen. Frank McKenzie

McKenzie and former Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley spoke of differences they had with the Biden administration, saying that the evacuation was inadequately planned and did not order it in time.

“The fundamental mistake, the fundamental flaw was the timing of the State Department.  That was too slow and too late.” – General Milley

The Refuge Fiasco

The exact number of refugees has been reported at 76,000 but may have been as high as 124,000. One look at the accompanying photo of more than 600 refugees on board a C-17 transport tells you vetting would have been impossible.

At a September 2021, Senate hearing, Sen. John Barrasso asked Secretary of State Antony Blinken if all the Afghan refugees were screened before boarding the aircraft. “Certainly not, most of them were not.” he responded.

In October 2021, a leaked email from a U.S. diplomat revealed a Biden directive to prioritize evacuation volume, pushing to fill the planes, “Err on the side of excess.”

In November 2021, the hapless Alejandro Mayorkas, then Homeland Security Secretary, confirmed, “We are not conducting in-person refugee interviews of100 percent.”

Fast Forward

This past Wednesday, one of those refugees, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, is the suspected shooter in the ambush of the two National Guard members who were on duty in Washington DC, helping to improve security in our nation’s capital.  He was reportedly paroled into the U.S. on September 8, 2021, under a Biden-era program for Afghan nationals.

He applied for asylum in 2024 and his application was granted in 2025, but his green card, which is tied to the asylum grant, is pending.

An investigation revealed that Lakanwal drove to Washington DC from Bellingham, Washington.  More details are emerging.

Meanwhile, we have citizens in Chicago, Los Angeles, Portland, Oregon and other cities who are illegally blocking ICE agents trying to rid their cities of illegals and refugees who need to be deported.

May God continue to bless the United States of America.