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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 27, 2025
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Henrike Dessaules | media@refugeerights.org
IRAP CONDEMNS SHOOTING OF NATIONAL GUARD MEMBERS, CALLS FOR RESTRAINT
Afghans should not face collective punishment for the action of one
(NEW YORK, NY) – Yesterday, two National Guard members were shot and critically wounded in Washington, D.C., and the alleged shooter was identified as an Afghan national who arrived in the United States as part of an evacuation following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. In response, the Trump administration announced an immediate pause on immigration applications filed by Afghan nationals, and the President indicated plans to re-examine all Afghan immigration in the last four years.
The following is a statement from the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP):
IRAP strongly condemns yesterday’s horrific violence against members of the National Guard in Washington, DC. Any act of violence is unacceptable. We extend our hopes for a full recovery to those wounded and our thoughts to their families and loved ones.
The government has a responsibility to ensure public safety. Policies that punish an entire nationality based on the actions of one individual are unjust and counterproductive. Afghans seeking protection – including those who served alongside U.S. forces – should not be abandoned. We urge the U.S. government to find a safe way to continue processing these cases, individually and with thorough vetting, rather than leaving them in limbo based solely on their nationality.
The International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) is a global legal aid and advocacy organization working to create a world where refugees and all people seeking safety are empowered to claim their right to freedom of movement and a path to lasting refuge. Everyone should have a safe place to live and a safe way to get there.
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