On November 26, Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal attacked members of the West Virginia National Guard in D.C., resulting in the death of Spc. Sarah Beckstom and critical injuries to Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe. This incident prompted the Trump administration to halt all asylum decisions and pause the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program for Afghans. Following these events, approximately 1,860 Afghans faced deportation orders. The administration’s narrative claimed that those entering the U.S. via Operation Allies Welcome were unvetted, contradicting evidence of thorough vetting processes. Despite claims that Afghan refugees pose threats, data from the Cato Institute highlight significantly lower incarceration rates for Afghans compared to native Americans. Furthermore, refugees contributed an estimated $123.8 billion to the U.S. economy between 2005 and 2019. Nonprofits continue to support Afghan resettlement amidst policy shifts, illustrating the resilience and potential of Afghan immigrants in enhancing community growth.
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