Official Statement on the Shooting of the Members of the National Guards

In August 2021, tens of thousands Afghan allies came to the United States through Operation Allies Welcome (OAW). Many of these individuals were admitted with Special Immigrant Visas or SIVs, which are given to individuals who served with the American military for at least two years. SIV holders are rigorously vetted and are promised safety in exchange for their service to America. Journalists, human rights activists, and other individuals immediately at risk were also admitted through OAW. All individuals underwent background checks conducted by intelligence, law enforcement, and counterterrorism professionals.

This week’s tragic shooting in Washington DC renewed harmful generalizations unfairly directed toward Afghan communities. Broad narratives that condemn entire communities do not honor the sacrifices of the Afghan allies who stood with the U.S. against the Taliban at great risk to their own lives and who now call this country home.

In addition, the administration’s use of this tragedy to reexamine green cards issued to immigrants from 19 different countries (including Afghanistan) and to freeze all asylum claims only creates more uncertainty, fear, and danger for millions of individuals and families. It undermines both US law and our nation’s longstanding humanitarian commitments. Immigration data indicates that approximately 3.3 million lawful permanent residents (green card holders) originated from the nations targeted for reevaluation. This decision impacts nearly 1.5 million people who fled persecution and sought refuge through asylum, which is a legal remedy and a moral obligation rooted in domestic and international law.

As Their Story Is Our Story mourns for the members of the National Guards and their families impacted by the shooting last week, we ask that this crisis not be used to put millions more innocent people at risk of persecution, violence, and retribution.