Afghan Evacuees

Immigration lawyers say ICE arrests of Afghan nationals have increased since the D.C. National Guard attack, and the White House on Dec. 1 said it is "actively reexamining" all Afghan nationals who entered the U.S. during the Biden administration. Reporting cites a Sacramento case of an Afghan father arrested upon check‑in with ICE despite consistent compliance, notes at least one arrest referenced prior domestic‑violence charges (AP could not independently verify all detainees’ immigration status), and advocacy group #AfghanEvac says the D.C. shooting suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, had been granted asylum earlier this year.

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.