Washington, DC – The National Iranian American Council strongly condemns the horrific shooting of two members of the U.S. National Guard by Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who used to be part of a Central Intelligence Agency-directed special forces unit in Afghanistan that had a long history of human rights violations. Our deepest condolences go to the family of Sarah Beckstrom, who passed away, while we hope for the recovery of Andrew Wolfe, who is fighting for his life. We call for justice to prevail and full transparency about the actions of the CIA-led unit Lakanwal served in.
We are deeply alarmed by the Trump administration’s response to this tragedy, including the President’s call to denaturalize and deport U.S. citizens. The administration’s announced plans to “rigorously reexamine” the status of every green card holder from nineteen nations, including Iran, and to allow for “negative, country-specific factors to be considered when vetting” nationals of those same nations applying for adjustment of immigration status are also deeply concerning.
It is clear that these announced changes can put many in our communities, schools, and families in jeopardy. At the same time, they are clearly based in discrimination and are plainly illegal and unconstitutional. Everyone present in the United States is afforded rights, from U.S. citizens to legal permanent residents to nationals on temporary visas to those who entered without documentation. We encourage members of our communities, including Iranians who are in the US on a green card or visa, to closely review their rights and plan accordingly. Our team is available to answer questions and connect you and your loved ones with legal resources.
National security is important, and any administration must take steps to guard against actual threats. This includes threats to American constitutional rights, including the right to due process and to be protected against discrimination. An assault on these fundamental rights would undermine the security of millions in the United States. We urge the administration to protect the Constitution rather than attack it and for Congress to step up to protect vulnerable communities from a fresh assault on their rights.
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