The Afghan community in the United States has voiced shock and sadness following a fatal shooting in Washington DC on Wednesday, stressing that the accused shooter does not represent their community.
The suspect, 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, entered the US four years ago through a programme designed for Afghans who had supported American forces during the 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan.
The attack claimed the life of National Guard member Sarah Beckstrom, 20, while Andrew Wolfe, 24, remains hospitalized in critical condition.
In reaction, President Donald Trump announced a halt on all Afghan immigration applications, ordered a review of green cards for individuals from 19 countries, and warned of stricter measures for migrants from what he describes as “third-world countries.”
On Friday, the administration also paused all decisions on asylum requests.
The Afghan Community Coalition of United States issued a statement expressing condolences to the families affected, calling for a thorough investigation while urging that Afghan immigration claims not be suspended.
“Twenty years of Afghan-US partnership must not be forgotten,” the coalition said, highlighting the two-decade-long effort launched by the US in 2001 to remove the Taliban from power and stabilize Afghanistan.
Afghans living in the US told the BBC they were appalled by the shooting, emphasizing it was the act of a single individual.
Speaking anonymously due to concerns about Taliban retaliation, one Afghan said the attack was “deeply tragic,” particularly as it occurred just before Thanksgiving in an already “highly charged political environment in Washington DC.”
He added: “Afghans in the United States are hardworking, tax paying members of society. They remain grateful to America for the evacuation efforts during the crisis in Kabul.” Thousands of Afghans left the country in 2021 following the Taliban takeover, many relying on US-assisted evacuation efforts.
US officials report that Lakanwal previously worked alongside American forces in Afghanistan, providing security at Kabul airport during the withdrawal.
He applied for asylum in 2024, and his request was approved earlier this year. Another Afghan who arrived in the US after 2021 described the attack as “really shocking,” emphasizing: “It is an individual crime which is committed without any support, participation and co-operation of others.”
Crystal Bayat, a human rights advocate who resettled in the US after 2021, said that despite having permanent residency, many Afghans remain anxious about abrupt policy changes.
“I have a fear every single day that what if the policy changes and they deport us from here?” she said. “It is very dangerous to punish entire immigrant communities, or the people who stood shoulder to shoulder with the (American) people.” Bayat also highlighted that some Afghan families still face danger in their homeland due to prior assistance to the US.
