Recent incidents involving Afghan refugees in the United States have raised concerns regarding violence and criminal behavior. Notably, two members of the National Guard were killed in Washington, D.C., in an attack attributed to an Afghan refugee, Rahmanullah Lakanwal. This incident followed the sentencing of another Afghan, Abdullah Haji Zada, who was involved in a plot for a mass shooting on Election Day.

Zada and his brother-in-law, Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, had planned an attack targeting large crowds. Tawhedi, who had previously served as a guard at an American facility in Afghanistan, had also arranged for his family to return to Afghanistan shortly before the attack, raising questions about the sincerity of their claims for humanitarian protection in the U.S.

The article notes that there have been multiple violent incidents involving Afghan refugees in recent years, including stabbings and shootings. For instance, in 2025, an Afghan refugee named Jamal Wali opened fire on police officers in Fairfax County, injuring two. These events have led to a narrative that Afghan refugees, once considered allies, may pose a security threat.

In 2024, another Afghan, Farhad Shakeri, was charged with involvement in a plot to assassinate political figures, while Haji Abdul Satar Abdul Manaf was sentenced for drug trafficking linked to terrorist organizations. Additionally, in 2022, Muhammad Syed, an Afghan refugee, was charged with multiple murders within the Muslim community in New Mexico, further complicating the narrative surrounding Afghan refugees.

The article suggests that the influx of Afghan refugees following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan has led to increased violence, contradicting the initial intent of providing safety and support to those who assisted U.S. forces. Critics argue that the Operation Allies Welcome program, which facilitated the resettlement of approximately 100,000 Afghans, has inadvertently brought security challenges to American communities. The ongoing discourse reflects broader concerns about the implications of refugee resettlement policies and their impact on public safety and community cohesion.