UPDATE: A shocking shooting incident in Washington, DC has raised urgent questions about the future of thousands of Afghan immigrants. Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national and former CIA operative, is in custody after he allegedly shot two members of the National Guard. This tragedy has ignited a fierce debate over immigration policies affecting Afghan resettlement in the United States.
Details are still emerging, but officials confirm that Lakanwal, who arrived in the US in 2021 under the evacuation initiative Operation Allies Welcome, was thoroughly vetted by the CIA due to his previous role in Afghanistan’s elite counterterrorism unit. His asylum application was approved just this past April, highlighting the challenges faced by Afghans adapting to life in the US.
Shawn VanDiver, founder of the advocacy group #AfghanEvac, revealed that Lakanwal struggled with culture shock and isolation after relocating. “In January 2024, a note was sent out trying to get him help,” VanDiver stated. “He declined assistance.” This raises critical questions about mental health support for Afghan refugees, as VanDiver emphasized, “This is not indicative of a larger problem with Afghans.”
“We need to ensure that this doesn’t turn into a political issue,” VanDiver urged.
However, following the shooting, former President Donald Trump seized the opportunity to critique immigration policies, stating that immigrants who do not love the US “will no longer be welcome.” He called for a re-examination of all Afghan immigrants who entered the country under President Biden, sparking outrage among lawmakers and advocates.
Critics, including Senator Mark Kelly, voiced concerns about targeting Afghan nationals. “Going after a large group of people who are just trying to live their lives does not make sense,” he said. Meanwhile, Senator Chris Van Hollen noted that “there’s no evidence that there was something that escaped the vetting” process.
This incident has resurfaced fears among the Afghan community in the US, where approximately 70,000 Afghans have settled since the chaotic withdrawal in August 2021. An additional 180,000 people are pending admission through the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program, along with another 65,000 refugees waiting for family reunification.
Amid these developments, the Trump administration has made moves to slow down SIV processing and has stripped many Afghans of Temporary Protected Status, leaving over 11,000 Afghans in legal limbo. Laila Ayub, an Afghan-American lawyer, expressed concerns about the negative impacts of these policies, stating that “this scapegoating leads to fear in communities, affecting everything from work attendance to school participation.”
As the situation unfolds, advocacy groups like Project ANAR are mobilizing to provide legal support to Afghans who have lost their legal status or are grappling with the new reality of heightened scrutiny from the US government.
Next Steps: The Afghan community and their advocates are urging Congress to take action to protect Afghan resettlement programs from being politicized. The urgency of the situation cannot be overstated, as the lives of thousands hang in the balance amidst this ongoing controversy.
As more information becomes available, the implications of this shooting and the subsequent political fallout will continue to affect countless lives. Stay tuned for real-time updates on this developing story.
