ICE Arrests Surge for Afghans After National Guard Shooting

UPDATE: Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests of Afghan nationals have surged following the tragic shooting of two National Guard soldiers in Washington, D.C., on November 26, 2023. This alarming increase highlights a new wave of crackdowns on Afghan immigrants who were previously checking in regularly with U.S. authorities.

The incident, involving Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal, left one soldier, Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, dead and another, Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe, in recovery. In the aftermath, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) halted all immigration processing for Afghan nationals, raising urgent concerns for those who risked their lives assisting U.S. forces during the Afghanistan conflict.

Reports indicate that ICE has detained a growing number of Afghans, particularly in Northern California. According to the Associated Press, around two dozen arrests have been documented since the shooting, with at least nine of these taking place last week in Sacramento—home to one of the largest Afghan communities in the U.S. Community volunteers monitoring ICE activity reported that many of those arrested had complied with all required check-ins after requesting asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border.

One heart-wrenching case involves a family that fled Taliban threats due to the wife’s father assisting U.S. military efforts. They had sought asylum at the southern border and had been diligently attending all appointments before the husband was handcuffed inside an ICE office. Advocates warn that these arrests could further isolate Afghan nationals who were promised safety under the Biden administration’s Operation Allies Welcome, which aimed to resettle approximately 76,000 Afghans following the fall of Kabul.

The political ramifications are significant. Vice President JD Vance criticized the Biden administration’s refugee policies, stating, “They shouldn’t have been in our country.” Meanwhile, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem condemned the influx of “unvetted Afghan aliens,” blaming the Biden administration for what she termed a national security crisis.

As the legal and political fallout continues, the Biden administration faces pressure to clarify its immigration policies for Afghans. The ongoing case against Lakanwal, who has pleaded not guilty to murder and assault charges, is expected to fuel further discussions about the treatment of Afghan immigrants in the U.S.

The heightened enforcement follows a broader trend of tightening immigration policies, which have already paused new asylum applications and restricted immigration-related processes for Afghans closely associated with U.S. efforts. Advocates express fear that these changes could jeopardize the safety and due process rights of thousands who believed they had found refuge in the United States.

As communities brace for more potential arrests, the question remains: how far will the administration’s Afghan dragnet extend, and at what cost to those seeking safety? The situation is developing rapidly, and updates are crucial for understanding the implications for Afghan nationals within the U.S.

Stay tuned for more updates as this situation unfolds.