Africans residing in the United States expressed their dismay over the recent “extremely tragic” shooting that took place in Washington DC on Wednesday, emphasizing that the suspect, who immigrated to the US from Afghanistan four years prior, does not represent their community.
The accused shooter, 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, came to the United States through a program designed to provide special immigration privileges to Afghans who allied with the US following the troop withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.
In the tragic event, National Guard member Sarah Beckstrom, aged 20, lost her life, while her colleague, 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe, is reportedly in critical condition.
In light of the incident, President Donald Trump has suspended the processing of all Afghan immigration requests, initiated a reassessment of green cards issued to individuals from 19 different nations, and warned of stricter measures against migrants he categorizes as being from “third-world countries.”
The Afghan Community Coalition in the United States expressed condolences to the victims’ families, urging for a thorough investigation while requesting that the government refrain from delaying or halting Afghan immigration applications.
“The two decades of partnership between Afghans and the US should not be overlooked,” the coalition’s statement remarked, referencing the US-led operation that started in 2001 to overthrow the Taliban and establish order in Afghanistan.
“The two decades of partnership between Afghans and the US should not be overlooked,” the coalition’s statement remarked, referencing the US-led operation that started in 2001 to overthrow the Taliban and establish order in Afghanistan.
Africans living in the US shared their horror regarding the shooting event in Washington DC, underscoring that it was the action of an individual.
Fearing potential reprisals from the Taliban, the Afghans chose to remain anonymous during their remarks. One Afghan resettled in the US post-withdrawal characterized the shooting as “extremely tragic” while noting its occurrence just before Thanksgiving amid a tumultuous political climate in Washington DC.
He stressed that this act was a result of individual misconduct and not indicative of the community as a whole.
“Afghans in America are diligent, tax-contributing citizens,” he added. “We remain thankful to the United States for assisting in our evacuation during the Kabul crisis.”
“Afghans in America are diligent, tax-contributing citizens,” he added. “We remain thankful to the United States for assisting in our evacuation during the Kabul crisis.”
In 2021, a large number of Afghans sought to escape as the US withdrew troops and the Taliban regained power.
US officials indicate that Lakanwal had connections with US forces during their presence in Afghanistan, where he assisted in securing US personnel at Kabul airport during the evacuation. He immigrated to the US that same year, applied for asylum in 2024, and had his application approved earlier this year.
Another Afghan, also relocated to the US following the country’s withdrawal four years ago, described the Wednesday shooting as “truly shocking” and shared his prayers for the victims’ families.
He speculated that the act was an “individual crime carried out independently of any accomplices” and added that it should not reflect on the entire community.
Yet another Afghan resident in the US commented that the incident had been a “devastating setback for all immigrants,” noting that the political response has left many feeling uncertain.
“The decision by the Trump administration to reassess immigration processes is detrimental for everyone,” he stated. “This approach is time-consuming, and no one is aware of the outcomes.”
“The decision by the Trump administration to reassess immigration processes is detrimental for everyone,” he stated. “This approach is time-consuming, and no one is aware of the outcomes.”
He mentioned that the situation feels even more alarming due to the threats facing his compatriots in Afghanistan, remarking, “For us Afghans, there are challenges both in Afghanistan and here.”
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