Afghans in the US say they are afraid and frustrated after the shooting of two National Guard members in Washington prompted the US government to halt visa processing for people from Afghanistan.
The shooting near the White House on Wednesday, allegedly carried out by an Afghan man, left one soldier dead and the other in a critical condition. The attack has sent shock waves through Afghan diaspora communities already anxious over increasing scrutiny.
Many Afghans in the US are fearful that the actions of one man will bring collective punishment.
Samad Sadri, 34, an Afghan-American data analyst who has lived in Washington since 2007, said the news has been devastating for families who have spent years rebuilding their lives.
Samad Sadri, an Afghan American living in Washington.
“It’s just the kind of violence that is really unacceptable,” he told The National. “Whenever there is an incident like this, my first thought is, 'I hope this person is not a Muslim.' The next thought is, 'I hope it is not an Afghan', because unfortunately the entire community of that nationality, religion or race pays for it.”
The suspected gunman, identified by the Department of Homeland Security as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, had been living in Washington state with his family and had previously worked with US part
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