SACRAMENTO, Calif. (PulseWire) — Giselle Garcia, a volunteer assisting Afghans in resettlement, drove a father to a routine check-in with ICE, warning the family to prepare for the worst. Upon entering the office, the father was arrested, emblematic of the increased scrutiny Afghans face following a recent shooting involving an Afghan suspect. Garcia, who chose not to name the family, recounted the anxiety she saw in the car, highlighting that they had fled Afghanistan due to Taliban threats.
In the wake of the shooting, approximately two dozen Afghan immigrants have been arrested, many of whom had previously sought asylum after arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border. Northern California, home to a significant Afghan community, has reported multiple instances of such detentions. Reports indicate this surge began after the shooting incident, raising alarms among community volunteers who monitor ICE activities.
After the Nov. 26 incident that left two National Guard troops injured, the federal government called for heightened vetting of Afghan individuals and paused immigration applications for many, causing distress in the Afghan community. Critics point out that the punitive actions stem from the actions of a single person and disproportionately affect those who risked their lives to aid U.S. efforts in Afghanistan.
Amidst the crackdown, advocates assert that those who assisted U.S. troops should not be collectively punished. The detention of Afghans has been characterized not only as an immigration enforcement issue but as a broader humanitarian crisis, where many families are left in turmoil, fearing for their loved ones’ safety. Garcia witnessed first-hand the emotional toll this has taken, recounting the heartbreaking moment a wife was left sobbing as her husband was handcuffed by agents, illustrating the dire reality faced by Afghan families seeking a new life in America.
In the wake of the shooting, approximately two dozen Afghan immigrants have been arrested, many of whom had previously sought asylum after arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border. Northern California, home to a significant Afghan community, has reported multiple instances of such detentions. Reports indicate this surge began after the shooting incident, raising alarms among community volunteers who monitor ICE activities.
After the Nov. 26 incident that left two National Guard troops injured, the federal government called for heightened vetting of Afghan individuals and paused immigration applications for many, causing distress in the Afghan community. Critics point out that the punitive actions stem from the actions of a single person and disproportionately affect those who risked their lives to aid U.S. efforts in Afghanistan.
Amidst the crackdown, advocates assert that those who assisted U.S. troops should not be collectively punished. The detention of Afghans has been characterized not only as an immigration enforcement issue but as a broader humanitarian crisis, where many families are left in turmoil, fearing for their loved ones’ safety. Garcia witnessed first-hand the emotional toll this has taken, recounting the heartbreaking moment a wife was left sobbing as her husband was handcuffed by agents, illustrating the dire reality faced by Afghan families seeking a new life in America.
