Kristi Noem, serving as top security official, asserted on the weekend that the individual in the military shooting in Washington DC was turned to extremism within the US and blamed the current government, even though the suspect's asylum was approved under Donald Trump.
Background of the Shooting Suspect
The shooting suspect, 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, was granted asylum under the Trump administration in spring 2025. He had served alongside CIA backed units in the Middle Eastern nation, arriving in the United States in late 2021 under an special immigration program.
It is our assessment extremism took hold since he’s been within our borders,” the secretary said on NBC’s Meet the Press. “We do believe the influence came from local networks and state, and we’re going to continue to talk to his contacts, relatives, who talk to them.”
Political Response and Asylum Review
The Trump administration used the shooting as grounds to halt and review immigration applications.
The secretary asserted “screening occurs when they come into the country, a process entirely neglected under Joe Biden’s administration”.
“Relevant screening data was collected by Joe Biden’s administration,” said Noem. “The vetting process all happened during the current term.”
Deportation Flights and Legal Disputes
The official also refuted that she defied a judge’s order when she authorized removal operations to El Salvador to continue, instead blaming “partisan” and “radical” judicial figures.
These remarks were prompted by inquiries on NBC’s Meet the Press on the weekend about whether she was responsible to continue the deportation flights for migrants from Venezuela earlier this year, as the federal legal agency has alleged.
“Our efforts will persist to do the right thing, continue to work safeguarding citizens, regardless of which activist judicial figure comes out attempting to hinder progress,” Noem commented.
She also was featured on another news program on the weekend, where she confirmed the flights were under her authority.
“Yes, the call was mine and that decision was under my complete authority in compliance with regulations and the constitution and the leadership of this president focused on getting high-risk individuals and gangs and cartels out of our country,” the secretary said. “This is an activist judge and it is clear, as noted, we’re still in litigation with this against this activist judge who’s continuously tried to block our efforts from protecting the American people.”
Legal Assertions and Compliance Investigation
The Department of Justice claimed the decision did not violate the court mandate. Federal judge the presiding official in Washington DC had ordered deportation flights already in the air return to the US in March 2025, but Noem instructed those operations underway carrying Venezuelan immigrants to El Salvador proceed, with the justice department stating the detainees were outside US jurisdiction.
Boasberg has been undergoing a contempt inquiry into whether the former government disregarded his spring judicial directive.
