Statement on the Washington, DC Shooting and the Protection of Afghan and Other Displaced Communities

“Having lived through the consequences of violent extremism and worked for years to protect vulnerable communities, I understand the grief and fear moments like this create. I fully support a thorough, transparent investigation and justice for those harmed, as well as rigorous and responsible vetting of any asylum seeker or refugee applicant — because security and due process must always go hand in hand. But even as we pursue accountability, one individual’s alleged actions cannot be allowed to define, burden, or endanger entire communities who had no part in this tragedy. Afghan evacuees — from every background — fled the very violent acts we condemn today and came to the United States to rebuild, contribute, and uphold shared democratic values. This moment calls for calm, principled leadership: a commitment to facts over assumptions, fairness over fear, and unity over narratives that exploit tragedy for political or ethnic ends.” — Ambassador Ashraf Haidari, Founder and President, Displaced International

Displaced International condemns, without reservation, the recent shooting in Washington, DC, in which two members of the West Virginia National Guard were ambushed and critically wounded. Our thoughts are with the injured Guard members, their families, and all those affected. We fully support a comprehensive, independent, and transparent investigation focused on facts, individual responsibility, and justice under the law.

As an organization founded by a former displaced person and dedicated to refugees, asylum seekers, and other displaced communities, Displaced International affirms that the United States has both the right and the duty to safeguard national security. That duty must be carried out through individualized, evidence-based, and non-discriminatory vetting, consistent with U.S. constitutional principles and international refugee and human rights obligations.

Key Principles

Displaced International underscores that:

• Individuals, not communities, are accountable for their own actions.

• Collective punishment and discrimination violate core norms of justice.

• The principle of non-refoulement prohibits the return of people to places where they will face serious harm.

• Equal protection and due process apply to everyone, regardless of nationality, ethnicity, religion, or immigration status.

These principles mean that responses to a single crime, however serious, must not take the form of generalized bans, stigma, or the de facto criminalization of Afghan evacuees, refugees, or other immigrant communities.

Afghan Communities and Public Safety

Drawing on its work with Afghan and other displaced communities across the United States, Displaced International notes that:

• Afghans have long been among the primary victims of violent extremism and conflict and are deeply familiar with the costs of violence.

• Afghan refugees, evacuees, and immigrants in the United States are overwhelmingly hardworking, law-abiding people who embrace American values and contribute as students, workers, entrepreneurs, and community members.

• In any large population, rare cases of alleged wrongdoing may occur, but such cases must remain exceptional and never be generalized to entire communities.

• Stigmatization and profiling undermine both justice and public safety by eroding trust and discouraging cooperation with authorities.

Concerns About Political Exploitation

Displaced International is deeply concerned by attempts — by Afghan and non-Afghan political actors alike — to exploit this tragedy for ethnic, factional, or strategic gain. Some recent statements have misrepresented evacuees’ backgrounds and risk triggering fear of Afghan communities based on ethnicity or political rivalry rather than verified facts.

We urge political figures, activists, and commentators to:

• Avoid ethnic or factional labeling and stereotyping.

• Refrain from reviving old intra-Afghan rivalries in diaspora debates.

• Not use this incident to stigmatize Afghan evacuees or any particular group.

• Ground public comments in verified information and shared responsibility, not fear or resentment.

A Note of Gratitude on Thanksgiving Day

On this Thanksgiving Day, Afghan evacuees, refugees, and immigrants across the United States express their profound gratitude to the American people and government for offering protection, dignity, and opportunity after they fled grave threats under the Taliban and other violent actors. Afghans recognize that many would not be alive, safe, or rebuilding their lives today without the generosity, sacrifice, and support extended by the United States.

They thank the American families and communities who welcomed them; the service members, veterans, NGOs, faith communities, and volunteers who helped evacuate and resettle them; the policymakers and public servants who work to ensure their safety; and the teachers, employers, neighbors, and friends who stand with them every day. Afghan families join Displaced International in reaffirming their commitment to the values of freedom, democracy, equality, and responsibility — and their determination to contribute positively to their new home.

Displaced International’s Calls to Action

Displaced International urges:

• A full, impartial, and transparent investigation focused on individual responsibility, with due process for the accused and support for the victims and their families.

• Rigorous but fair, individualized vetting for all asylum seekers and refugees, strengthened where necessary but never applied as blanket measures against whole nationalities, ethnicities, or faiths.

• A firm rejection of stigmatization, profiling, and collective punishment directed at Afghan evacuees and all displaced populations.

• Responsible public messaging by political leaders, media, and community figures that emphasizes facts, individual accountability, and the positive contributions of refugees and immigrants.

About Displaced International

Displaced International is a global non-profit organization founded by a former displaced person and dedicated to advancing protection, integration, and durable solutions for refugees, asylum seekers, and displaced communities worldwide.

For media inquiries, please contact: info@displacedinternational.org