Noem recoils after congressional Dem calls deadly terror attack on Guardsmen ‘unfortunate accident’

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem rebuked a congressman during a committee hearing after he called the deadly shooting of two National Guardsmen by an Afghan national an “unfortunate accident” instead of a terrorist attack.

Noem was testifying during a House Homeland Security Committee hearing in what became a contentious back and forth. She argued sharply against Democrat criticism of the deportation policies, which the Trump administration said have resulted in 527,000 forceful deportations, plus another 1.6 million self-deportations.

However, Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Mississippi, seemed to downplay the recent attack on two National Guardsmen, who were shot by an Afghan refugee just before Thanksgiving.

“Madam Secretary, you and the gentleman from… NCTC [National Counterterrorism Center] reference the unfortunate accident that occurred with the National Guardsman being killed,” stated Thompson.

Noem interrupted.

“You think that was an unfortunate accident?” she replied incredulously. “This was a terrorist attack.”

“I’ll get it straight, then you…” said Thompson dismissively, before Noem interrupted.

“He shot our National Guardsmen in the head,” she added in disbelief.

U.S. Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, 20, was killed in the attack, while 24-year-old U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe remains in acute care with a bullet wound to the head.

Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national who was legally in the U.S. after being granted asylum under the Biden administration, has been charged in the assault and pleaded not guilty.

The charging documents by the Department of Justice called the crime an “ambush-style shooting.”

Thompson also claimed the suspect was staying in the country with the approval of the Trump administration and threatened Noem with perjury charges if she didn’t agree.

“I don’t want to charge perjury charges against you, but I’m of the opinion that the Trump administration, DHS, your DHS, approved the asylum application,” Thompson said.

But Noem said the Biden administration was responsible for both vetting and follow-up with Lakanwal, noting all immigrants on special visas are required to make periodic check-ins.

Thompson then pivoted to ask Director of the NCTC Joseph Kent the same question.

“Mr. Kent? Do you want a shot at it?” Thompson asked.

“The individual was vetted to serve as a soldier in Afghanistan and that vetting standard was used by the Biden administration as a ruse to bring him here,” Kent said. “Had we followed the standard operating procedures for special immigrant visas, that individual… wouldn’t have come to America. That’s on Joe Biden.”

Reuters reported Lakanwal entered the U.S. on Sept. 8, 2021, under a resettlement program set up by former President Joe Biden. The Afghan applied for asylum in December 2024, which was granted in April 2025, three months after Trump took office.

Republicans on the committee largely sided with Noem, praising the administration’s enforcement posture and citing what they described as measurable results.

Lawmakers pointed to a sharp increase in formal deportations as well as many voluntary departures, often referred to as “self-deportations,” as evidence that tougher enforcement and messaging are changing behavior.

The immigration policies appear to be having an economic impact, too.

Recent Bureau of Labor Statistics data showed a significant year-over-year decline in employment among foreign-born workers in the U.S., even as overall employment and native-born employment have held steady or increased.

The September jobs report shows roughly 700,000 fewer foreign-born workers employed year over year, according to the BLS household survey.

Over the same period, about 300,000 foreign-born individuals moved into the category of “not in the labor force,” while roughly 400,000 are no longer counted in the civilian labor force at all.

Meanwhile, the foreign-born unemployment rate fell from 4.2% to 4.1%, indicating these workers likely exited the labor market entirely.

Taken together, the figures are consistent with a large-scale reduction in the foreign-born population in the United States, including deportations and voluntary departures.

Noem closed her testimony by reiterating DHS would continue prioritizing removals, deterrence and enforcement, arguing the department’s responsibility is first and foremost to protect Americans.

“Please go back to your agencies and thank the men and women that are serving every day and helping to keep this country safe,” Rep. Tony Gonzalez, R-Texas, who represents a district along the U.S.-Mexico border, told Noem.