Lawmaker floats 'perjury charges' against Trump DHS head during live hearing

Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) hammered Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on who approved the asylum of Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who shot and killed a National Guard soldier in Washington, D.C. on Nov. 26, 2025.

Lakanwal, a CIA-backed fighter in Afghanistan, entered the United States in 2021 and applied for asylum. He was approved in April 2025 under President Donald Trump's administration, CNN reported.

Thompson repeatedly probed who approved the application. Noem tried to find a way to blame former President Joe Biden's administration. She claimed that the vetting for Lakanwal happened due to the "Biden administration's vetting."

Thompson wasn't having it.

"Who, who approved the asylum?" Thompson said as Noem tried to speak over him.

"The application on the asylum was thoroughly filled out by information that was gathered by the Biden administration," Noem repeated.

"So, the Biden administration approved the asylum?" Thompson asked again. Noem filibustered over him, again stating the application was "put into place under the rules established by the Biden administration."

"Reclaiming my time. I don't want to charge — file perjury charges against you, but I'm of the opinion that the Trump administration, DHS, your DHS, approved the asylum application," said Thompson.

Noem claimed that the application "moved forward under all of the information and vetting processes that were put in place under the Biden administration." Meaning, the application was filed under Biden. Noem refused to acknowledge the application's approval.

"Reclaiming my time again," Thompson said as Noem refused to admit Trump administration culpability. "It's obvious you're not going to answer my question."

"Mr. Kent you want to take a shot at it?" He asked the director of the National Counterterrorism Center, Joseph Kent.

Kent also repeated that Lakanwal was vetted under Biden, and because he was tagged as a soldier, he was allowed into the U.S.

However, it was the Trump administration that ultimately approved the application. They have since changed the way they do vetting. The most recent update will require enhanced vetting for H-1B and dependent H-4 visa applicants as of Dec. 15, 2025.

Thompson also pressed DHS officials on the claim that antifa is a terrorist organization. He asked how many people they've identified or where they were that they consider terrorists. None of the officials answered.