Trump's Efforts to Control Afghan Refugees Will Not Enhance America's Security

In response to last weeks shooting in Washington, D.C., which targeted two West Virginia National Guard members, the Trump administration has intensified its anti-immigration policies. The accused shooter, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, is an Afghan national, prompting President Donald Trump to suspend all asylum applications and pause visa issuance for Afghan passport holders.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that the government is "actively reviewing" all Afghan nationals who entered the U.S. under President Biden. According to CBS, officials are considering expanding the existing travel ban from 19 countries to 30.

Following the attack, Trump described it as evidence of "the single greatest national security threat" to the nation, criticizing the Biden administration for permitting "unknown" and "unvetted" migrants from Afghanistan and other nations. Trump referred to Afghanistan as "a hellhole on Earth" and suggested that allowing immigrants into the country increases crime and violence. Such claims have historically been used to justify strict deportation measures.

Under Trump, the Department of Homeland Security has detained over 66,000 individuals, including 600 children, often bypassing constitutional protections. However, research by David J. Bier, director of immigration studies at the Cato Institute, indicates that the majority of those taken into ICE custody since October 1 had no criminal convictions. Nearly 50% had neither convictions nor pending charges, while about 25% had pending charges but no convictions. Of those with convictions, most were for minor offenses, with only 5% involving violent crimes. Arrests of individuals without criminal records have surged by 1,500% since January.

After learning that the suspect was Afghan, Trump promised to "take all necessary measures to remove any alien who does not belong or contribute to our country." Yet evidence suggests that targeting Afghan refugees is unlikely to uncover large numbers of violent individuals.

Since the Talibans return to power in August 2021, nearly 200,000 Afghans have relocated to the U.S. under Operation Allies Welcome and Operation Enduring Welcome, programs designed to resettle those who aided the U.S. during the Afghanistan conflict. An additional 260,000 are awaiting relocation. Although Lakanwal arrived under these programs after working with the CIA, security screenings were conducted before his entry. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem noted that Lakanwal was radicalized only after arriving in the U.S.

Sharif Aly of the International Refugee Assistance Project emphasized that Afghan refugees are among the most thoroughly vetted immigrants in the U.S. Re-examining hundreds of thousands of peaceful Afghan refugees is both cruel and a significant waste of government resources. Many refugees already live under legal uncertainty and fear returning to Afghanistan, and these new restrictions worsen their precarious situation.

Author: Olivia Parker