Deadly Washington, D.C., Shooting and the Policy Fallout
On November 26, Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal shot two members of the West Virginia National Guard in Washington, D.C. U.S. Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom later died of her wounds, and U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe remains in critical condition. The attack set off an immediate and expansive enforcement and policy response aimed at Afghans in the United States and Afghan allies overseas.
Rapid Government Actions
On November 29, the administration announced a pause on all asylum decisions and halted the issuance of visas to Afghans "until we can ensure that every alien is vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible." That pause also affects the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program, which grants lawful permanent residency to Afghans who served the United States. The New York Times reported that an email sent to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) field offices on November 29 directed officers to arrest roughly 1,860 Afghans with final deportation orders.
On December 1, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said she recommended broadening travel restrictions targeting people from Afghanistan; she used sharp language on social media calling for a "full travel ban" on countries she described as sending dangerous or burdensome migrants. That same day, the White House press secretary said the administration would "actively re-examine" Afghans who entered the U.S. during the Biden administration.
Vetting and the Operation Allies Welcome Cohort
Administration officials have described Afghans admitted during the 2021 evacuation as "unvetted and unchecked," but available records contradict that claim. The roughly 72,000 Afghans processed under Operation Allies Welcome (OAW) were subject to a multi-stage vetting process, including biometric and security screening at overseas hubs, additional checks at U.S. airports, and final screening at U.S. military bases prior to placement with resettlement organizations.
Data on Crime and Fiscal Impact
Independent analyses complicate the argument that Afghan arrivals pose elevated security or fiscal risks. A 2019 Cato Institute study found the incarceration rate for Afghans ages 18–54 was about 127 per 100,000 — far lower than the 1,477 per 100,000 reported for U.S.-born Americans. The International Rescue Committee, citing a 2024 Department of Health and Human Services study, reported that refugees produced a $123.8 billion net fiscal benefit to the U.S. between 2005 and 2019, paying $581 billion in taxes while receiving $457.1 billion in government support.
Policy History and Human Costs
Policy moves targeting Afghans began earlier in the year. On January 20, executive actions suspended the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) and curtailed foreign assistance, leaving an estimated 85,000 Afghans in limbo; a January 24 State Department stop-work order halted resettlement funding. Subsequent measures revoked parole for some Afghans who had entered via southern-border asylum claims, and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) was removed in July based on asserted improvements in Afghanistan.
Afghans airlifted in August 2021 initially received two years of humanitarian parole; that parole was extended for two additional years in 2023 but lapsed in 2025 without renewal. Many of those people remain without lawful status or work authorization while awaiting asylum decisions or an SIV. The U.S. also faces a backlog of roughly 1.5 million asylum cases, which compounds delays and uncertainty.
Funding for SIV applicant travel stopped after a government freeze, but nonprofits stepped in: organizations such as No One Left Behind raised funds to cover flights for thousands of Afghans, and by November the U.N. International Organization for Migration had resumed some SIV flights. Still, canceling visa issuance places the future of SIV processing at risk.
Domestic Review of Recent Refugees
On November 24 — notably before the November 26 attack — a leaked memo from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Joe Edlow instructed a "comprehensive review and a re-interview of all refugees admitted from January 20, 2021, to February 20, 2025," warning that any refugee who does not meet criteria could lose status. That directive, combined with the later policy announcements, has increased fear and uncertainty among Afghan communities and their supporters.
Voices and Personal Stories
Beyond statistics and policy briefs are personal stories of service and resilience. One author recounts meeting an Afghan interpreter, "Zia," who had been a doctor in Afghanistan and who assisted U.S. forces during combat. Evacuated without a clear long-term plan, Zia retrained and worked multiple jobs while awaiting legal status; later he obtained a medical license. Stories like this highlight the contributions and sacrifices of many Afghan allies.
Bottom Line: The D.C. shooting prompted fast-moving policy and enforcement measures that affect Afghans already in the U.S. and those awaiting resettlement. Independent data challenge claims of increased criminality or fiscal burden among refugees, while policy shifts and administrative freezes have left many vulnerable and uncertain.
