Resettled Afghans who aided US forces say their immigration futures are uncertain after an alleged Washington attack by an Afghan national prompted a presidential pause on migration and a review of residency grants affecting roughly 1.6 million people. Evacuees who fled during the chaotic August 2021 withdrawal report stalled citizenship and green-card processes and fear being judged or returned to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. Community members urge authorities to treat applicants individually and not conflate one suspect's actions with the wider refugee population.
Resettled Afghans in US Fear for Their Future After Alleged Washington Attack Triggers Migration Pause
Afghan immigrant Maryam, a pseudonym used to protect her identity, works for a nonprofit group that connects low-income people in southern California with housing and medical services (Robyn Beck)(Robyn Beck/AFP/AFP)
Afghans who worked alongside US forces for nearly two decades and resettled in America say their futures have been thrown into uncertainty after an alleged attack in Washington left two National Guard soldiers wounded and one dead. Many who were promised refuge say immigration reviews and processing have stalled, leaving families afraid they could be judged for the actions of one individual or even face return to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.
What Happened
Officials say an Afghan national allegedly carried out an "ambush-style" attack in Washington that left 20-year-old West Virginia National Guard Specialist Sarah Beckstrom dead and fellow Guardsman Andrew Wolfe, 24, critically injured. The following day, President Donald Trump announced a pause on migration from what he described as "third world countries" and ordered a review of residency grants for people from 19 countries — a review that an AFP tally says could affect about 1.6 million residents.
Voices From the Community
"Everybody is scared," a 31-year-old Afghan green card holder told AFP. "We are scared that we will be judged by people for the crimes committed by one individual from Afghanistan." Many interviewees asked to withhold their full names for fear of drawing scrutiny from immigration authorities.
"When I sleep my chest feels very painful, empty. I feel like I belong to nowhere," said Maryam, a 27-year-old who worked on projects for the US embassy in Kabul producing educational materials.
Background: The 2021 Withdrawal
During the period when US and coalition forces were in Afghanistan, parts of Afghan society — including expanded rights and opportunities for women — began to modernize. But in August 2021, the rapid withdrawal of US troops allowed the Taliban to retake control. Tens of thousands of Afghans who had assisted Western forces and institutions scrambled to evacuate amid chaotic scenes at Kabul's airport.
Paths to Safety and New Lives
Some evacuees recounted harrowing journeys: one man, Khan, described printing dozens of documents to prove his family's ties to the US, enduring long waits at the airport, then traveling through Qatar and Germany before arriving in New Jersey for roughly two months of background checks and resettlement processing. In Anaheim, Khan says he worked multiple jobs, started a used-car dealership and purchased a triplex; he secured a green card and was preparing to apply for citizenship before recent events paused his plans.
Impact and Concerns
Interviewees said the post-attack reviews and broader political rhetoric have created fear across the Afghan community — among green card holders, people on parole, and asylum applicants alike. Many say they worry their applications will be delayed or revoked and that they could face deportation to a country where they fear persecution.
"What this person did does not represent us," Maryam said. "We are committed to America; we are not traitors — we are survivors." Community leaders and resettled Afghans are calling for fair, individualized treatment by immigration authorities and for the administration to distinguish between individuals accused of crimes and the broader refugee population who helped US efforts.
Byline: Reporting compiled from AFP interviews.
