A Marine veteran has raised serious concerns about the risks posed by some Afghan evacuees who fought alongside U.S. forces during the war in Afghanistan. In an exclusive interview with The Post, Chad Robichaux, a former Force Reconnaissance soldier with eight tours of duty in Afghanistan, asserted that disloyalty among local fighters occurs more frequently than many might realize. His comments come in the wake of a recent incident involving an Afghan national accused of a deadly attack on U.S. National Guard members in Washington, D.C.
On the evening of November 24, 2024, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old former member of a CIA-backed paramilitary group, allegedly opened fire on two National Guard members, resulting in one fatality. Lakanwal had served for over a decade alongside U.S. forces against the Taliban, al-Qaeda, and ISIS, according to U.S. officials. Robichaux expressed alarm over the Biden administration’s vetting process for Afghan evacuees, particularly following the chaotic withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan in August 2021.
Robichaux stated, “When you work in another country with local nationals, there’s an inherent risk. You have to depend on these people.” He emphasized that quick vetting processes can lead to oversight. “There’s always going to be a segment of the population that’s disloyal and can turn on you. And it happens a lot more than people suspect.”
As a Marine and later the leader of an evacuation effort, Robichaux witnessed firsthand the willingness of some Afghan allies to betray their U.S. partners. He recounted a personal experience where he trusted an Afghan operative who ultimately revealed critical information that led to the abduction of his team members.
The complexity of the vetting process for Afghan evacuees has become a point of contention. Robichaux highlighted that just because someone has worked with U.S. intelligence does not guarantee their suitability for life in the United States. He underscored the importance of a thorough immigration process, stating, “The State Department still has to have their immigration process for that and do due diligence to vet them out.”
Concerns have been echoed by officials such as CIA Director John Ratcliffe, who noted that the Biden administration justified Lakanwal’s entry into the U.S. based on his previous work with U.S. forces. Meanwhile, Joe Kent, Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, pointed out that Lakanwal was only vetted for combat roles, not for integration into American society.
A senior U.S. official confirmed that Lakanwal’s vetting was based solely on his military service, which has prompted questions about the standards applied during the evacuation. The official stated, “None of the checks done from 2011 to now checked his suitability to live here,” referencing a significant shift in the vetting process under the Biden administration.
In 2021, approximately 85,000 Afghans were brought to the U.S. as part of “Operation Allies Welcome.” Among these were around 10,000 individuals associated with the same elite units as Lakanwal. The rapid evacuation often meant that critical data for proper screening was unavailable, as documented in a report by the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General.
Lakanwal applied for a special immigration visa but was denied lawful permanent residence. He later sought asylum and received approval in April 2025 from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, a process criticized for its expedited nature. Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin attributed the situation to the Biden administration’s “humanitarian parole” program, which she claimed allowed Lakanwal to remain in the U.S.
The Trump administration has since paused immigration requests from Afghan nationals pending further review of security protocols, with officials emphasizing the need for a more rigorous vetting process. Robichaux expressed frustration with the current system, stating, “Just because you’re approved to work with special operations or the CIA doesn’t give you a pathway to the United States.”
He stated that the chaotic evacuation led to individuals being flown directly into the U.S. without proper vetting. “They didn’t know who was on those planes. He could have worked for the CIA. He could have worked for the Taliban,” Robichaux said, adding that he had collaborated with NGOs to safely evacuate thousands of Afghan allies.
The urgency of establishing a careful vetting process for Afghan evacuees remains paramount, as the implications of rapid evacuations continue to resonate within the U.S. and abroad. As Robichaux noted, “The number of nationals flown straight from Kabul to the United States may have been as high as 100,000,” raising ongoing concerns about national security and the vetting of individuals entering the country.
