South Dakota's governor, serving as homeland security secretary, stated on Sunday that the suspect in the military shooting in Washington DC was turned to extremism within the United States and blamed the current government, even though the suspect's refugee status was approved under Donald Trump.
Background of the Shooting Suspect
The shooting suspect, 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, was granted asylum under the former government in April 2025. The individual had worked with CIA backed units in Afghanistan, coming to the US in September 2021 under an special immigration program.
It is our assessment he was radicalized after arriving here in this country,” the secretary said on a national news program. “Our investigation indicates the influence came from connections in his home community and region, efforts will persist to talk to those who interacted with him, who were his family members, who talk to them.”
Political Response and Immigration Review
The former leadership used the shooting as justification to pause and reassess immigration applications.
The secretary claimed “screening occurs when they come into the country, a process entirely neglected under Joe Biden’s administration”.
“Relevant screening data gathered under the present leadership,” said she. “Security checks were conducted under Joe Biden’s administration.”
Removal Flights and Legal Disputes
The official also refuted that she defied a court directive when she authorized deportation flights to the Central American nation to continue, attributing the issue to “activist” and “extreme” judges.
These remarks were prompted by questioning on NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday about whether Noem was responsible to proceed with the removal operations for migrants from Venezuela earlier this year, as the federal legal agency has alleged.
“We’ll continue acting appropriately, proceed diligently and protect Americans, regardless of which radical judge comes out and tries to stop us,” Noem said.
She also was featured on another news program on Sunday, where she verified the operations were under her authority.
“Certainly, I made that decision as it fell within my jurisdiction and following the law and the constitution and the leadership of this president focused on getting high-risk individuals and organized crime groups from the nation,” the secretary stated. “We face a partisan judicial figure and it is clear, as noted, we’re still in litigation with this against this activist judge persistently attempting to stop us from protecting the American people.”
Judicial Assertions and Compliance Inquiry
The federal legal body claimed the action complied with the judge’s order. Federal judge the presiding official in Washington DC had ordered removal operations mid-flight turn back in March 2025, but Noem instructed those operations underway carrying Venezuelan immigrants to the destination continue, with the legal agency stating the individuals were outside US jurisdiction.
Boasberg has been subject to a compliance investigation into whether the former government disregarded his March court order.
