In the wake of a recent fatal shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, D.C., U.S. immigration authorities have escalated actions against Afghan immigrants. Legal aid workers and community volunteers report that dozens of Afghan nationals — many of them asylum seekers or evacuees under a U.S. resettlement program — have been arrested, sometimes immediately after routine check-ins. The sudden surge in detentions has left many families distraught and anxious about their future.
Rising Arrests Among Afghan Immigrants
Since the November 26 shooting by an Afghan national in Washington, D.C., immigration attorneys and advocates say roughly two dozen Afghan immigrants have been detained — primarily in Northern California.
In Sacramento alone — home to one of America’s largest Afghan communities — volunteers noticed at least nine men taken into custody after being summoned to report to the federal immigration office. Many were arrested the moment they stepped into the building.
One Afghan man, who had fled Taliban threats in Afghanistan and sought asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border, was reportedly detained during a scheduled check-in, leaving his wife and children distressed in the car as he was handcuffed.
Who Is Being Targeted — And Why the Concern
Those apprehended include individuals who either sought asylum in recent years or arrived under the government-led resettlement plan for Afghan evacuees after the 2021 U.S. withdrawal.
The swell of arrests comes as the current administration declared it would re-evaluate all Afghan nationals admitted under previous policies. As a result, many community members feel they are being targeted not for specific wrongdoing but because of their nationality — raising concern over collective punishment.
Even Afghans who followed every legal protocol — reporting for appointments and carrying required documentation — have reportedly been detained, casting doubt on whether many of the arrests are rooted in individual criminal suspicion.
Impact on Afghan Communities & Immigration Process
Following the crackdown, several Afghan immigrants say the atmosphere has turned tense: asylum interviews and visa applications have been postponed or cancelled, and many report fear of random arrests.
Community organizations helping resettled families have described a surge in calls requesting legal help and guidance as parents worry about potential detentions happening without warning — even in homes where no unlawful behavior is allege.
Some lawmakers and advocates condemn the sweeping detentions as unjust, arguing that punishing entire communities for the actions of a single individual undermines the principle of individual justice.
