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The United Nations (UN) has urged the United States not to let the shooting of two National Guard soldiers near the White House lead to broad scrutiny of Afghan immigrants, warning against unfairly linking the incident to the wider Afghan community.
The alleged shooter, identified as an Afghan national, previously worked with US forces in Afghanistan before moving to America four years ago, according to reports from US media.
Following the attack on Wednesday, President Donald Trump condemned the violence and called for a review of all Afghan arrivals who entered the country under programmes initiated during Joe Biden’s presidency.
Arafat Jamal, head of the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in Kabul, said the crime was “heinous” and, if proven, “certainly deserves condemnation”.
However, he stressed that the actions of one individual should not cast suspicion on other Afghan refugees or asylum seekers living in the US.
“I am concerned about news coverage that repeatedly highlights his Afghan background,” Jamal told AFP while visiting Brussels for discussions with EU officials. “It’s important this does not affect the perception of Afghans who have faithfully supported Americans during their mission in Afghanistan.”
US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed that the suspect had entered the country through a programme designed by the Biden administration to assist Afghans who collaborated with US forces following the Taliban’s 2021 takeover.
