WASHINGTON, D.C. — After a tragic incident in Washington, D.C., where two National Guard members were shot—one fatally—President Trump has announced sweeping new measures that will heavily impact our communities, especially Afghan immigrants and refugees. These measures, which include halting all asylum decisions and suspending visa processing for multiple countries, disproportionately affect vulnerable immigrant communities and undermine the principles of due process and equal treatment under the law.

Even before this deeply tragic incident, the administration had already taken significant steps to prevent people from entering the country, including ending Temporary Protected Status for Afghans and terminating humanitarian parole programs, among other actions. Now, the actions have intensified, with USCIS having paused all Afghan-related immigration processing, including Special Immigrant Visas, and the pausing of passports and asylum decisions for Afghan people. Such blanket policies risk stigmatizing and punishing entire communities, and will deter individuals from seeking lawful avenues of immigration.

Additionally, and among the most alarming, USCIS Director Joseph B. Edlow ordered a review of all refugee admissions under the Biden Administration—individuals who already endured some of the United States’ most vigorous vetting processes—as well as all green card holders from designated “countries of concern.” Furthering an agenda of mass deportation, the President also threatened to halt immigration from “all third-world countries,” in a plan that would revoke the citizenship of those the federal government believes “undermine domestic tranquility,” and threatening to deport anyone “who is a public charge, security risk, or incompatible with Western Civilization,” while reiterating threats to denaturalize people. Denaturalization is an extreme measure normally considered for war criminals or egregious fraud.

Said Nicole Melaku, NPNA executive director, “Instead of meeting this tragedy with compassion for the families impacted by this violent act, the president responded with further escalation, more hateful rhetoric, and extreme measures to advance the administration’s reckless and chaotic anti-immigrant agenda, going so far as to threaten to denaturalize long-standing citizens. The suspension of asylum decisions and visa processing not only affects those seeking refuge, but it also impacts families awaiting reunification and individuals who have contributed positively to American society. These individuals and families, who are seeking safety and stability, are not responsible for the violence in D.C. this weekend.

“In a democracy, it is imperative that responses to political violence are measured and do not infringe upon the rights of innocent individuals, much less entire communities nationwide. The National Partnership for New Americans condemns this continued irresponsible rhetoric and policymaking that is only fueling division and baseless fear to justify the administration’s continued systematic targeting of immigrant communities.”

Said Fatima Saidi, We Are All America campaign director, “As an Afghan-American, I rebuilt my life here, believing this country could offer safety and stability. Today’s actions send a chilling message that refugees and immigrants belong only conditionally, and that our futures can be threatened at any moment because of the actions of one individual. Using a tragedy to punish millions, pause visas, and threaten denaturalization is not leadership; it is cruelty and political opportunism. Our communities should not be scapegoated.”

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The National Partnership for New Americans (NPNA) is a multi-ethnic, multiracial coalition of 86 of the nation’s largest immigrant and refugee rights organizations with reach across over 42 states. Together with our members, we advance immigrant and refugee equity and inclusion, build and expand immigration legal services and integration programming capacity, and drive campaigns that strengthen democracy through increased civic participation. See our website for more information at partnershipfornewamericans.org.