DHS lists Afghan evacuees arrested in ICE sweeps
DHS has identified Afghan evacuees among those arrested in recent ICE sweeps, with news outlets tracking roughly two dozen detentions since the Nov. 26 D.C. National Guard shooting — most in Northern California. Volunteers in Sacramento reported at least nine Afghan men detained after ICE check‑in calls, and those held included recent asylum seekers at the U.S.–Mexico border and some evacuees from Operation Allies Welcome; DHS said it is going “full throttle” to identify and arrest known or suspected terrorists and “criminal illegal aliens” amid paused asylum decisions and stepped‑up vetting. Media reports also say some of the detainees have been accused of terror‑related or sexual offenses.
đź“Ś Key Facts
- Since the Nov. 26 D.C. National Guard shooting, AP tracked roughly two dozen arrests of Afghans, with most occurring in Northern California.
- Volunteers in Sacramento reported at least nine Afghan men were arrested at a federal building after receiving ICE check‑in calls.
- Those detained included recent asylum seekers from the U.S.–Mexico border and some evacuees from Operation Allies Welcome.
- DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said the department is going "full throttle" to identify and arrest known or suspected terrorists and "criminal illegal aliens" tied to Biden‑era parole programs.
- The article notes broader post‑incident policy changes — including pausing some asylum decisions and increased vetting — with steps specifically targeting certain Afghan cases.
đź“Š Relevant Data
In 2022, 39 percent of Afghan immigrants were in poverty, compared to 12 percent for the native born and 14 percent for immigrants overall.
Afghan Immigrants in the United States — Migration Policy Institute
Afghan evacuees in the US experience a high burden of traumatic events and mental health disorders, with long-lasting impacts on psychological well-being from events like the Taliban regime, bombing, and coerced displacement.
Then, We Lost Everything:' Afghan Refugee Mental Health Challenges Post-2021 Evacuation — NIH
There are an estimated 30,000 to 40,000 Afghans living in Greater Sacramento as of 2025, up from approximately 9,700 in Sacramento County in 2021.
Sacramento Afghan community faces uncertainty as TPS ends — CapRadio
Employment rate among a sample of post-pandemic Afghan refugee families in the US was 23.5% as of 2025, lower than the 48.7% rate for Afghan refugees overall.
Post-Pandemic Multidimensional Integration of Afghan Refugee Families in the U.S.: Evidence from a Mixed-Methods Study — Springer Link
đź“° Sources (2)
- AP tracked roughly two dozen Afghan arrests since the Nov. 26 D.C. National Guard shooting, with most occurring in Northern California.
- Volunteers in Sacramento reported at least nine Afghan men were arrested at the federal building after receiving ICE check‑in calls.
- Those detained included recent asylum seekers at the U.S.–Mexico border and some evacuees from Operation Allies Welcome.
- DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin stated the department is going 'full throttle' to identify and arrest known or suspected terrorists and 'criminal illegal aliens' tied to Biden‑era parole programs.
- Article notes broader post‑incident policy moves: pausing asylum decisions and increased vetting, with steps specifically targeting some Afghan cases.