ICE steps up Afghan arrests after D.C. attack
Immigration lawyers and volunteers report a surge in ICE arrests of Afghans since the Nov. 26 shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, D.C., with the AP tracking roughly two dozen arrests nationwide—most in Northern California—and at least nine men detained at Sacramento’s federal building after ICE check‑in calls. DHS said it is going 'full throttle' to arrest known or suspected terrorists and criminal noncitizens tied to Biden‑era parole programs, while broader post‑incident measures have paused asylum decisions and tightened vetting, including steps focused on Afghan cases.
📌 Key Facts
- AP tracked about two dozen Afghan arrests post‑Nov. 26; most occurred in Northern California.
- At least nine arrests were witnessed at the Sacramento federal building after ICE check‑in calls.
- DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin: agency is going 'full throttle' targeting known/suspected terrorists and criminal noncitizens.
📊 Relevant Data
The Afghan population in Greater Sacramento is estimated to be between 30,000 and 40,000 as of 2025, making it one of the largest Afghan communities in the United States.
Sacramento Afghan community faces uncertainty as TPS ends — CapRadio
California had more than 58,000 Afghan immigrants in 2023, representing about 39 percent of all Afghan immigrants in the United States.
Afghans in CA in peril as federal protections evaporate — CalMatters
While the overwhelming majority of Afghan evacuees have resettled without incident, there are records of a small number of serious criminal incidents among them since 2021.
Unpacking the US evacuation and resettlement of Afghan allies — The National Desk
A growing volume of research demonstrates that immigrants commit fewer crimes than U.S.-born individuals and do not raise crime rates in their communities.
Explainer: Immigrants and Crime in the United States — Migration Policy Institute