Federal immigration agents have arrested at least 10 Afghan nationals in the Albany area this week, part of a wide-ranging national enforcement operation launched after an Afghan migrant was accused of shooting two National Guard members in Washington, DC
In Albany, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested two men, a 57-year-old father and his son, on Central Avenue after early morning prayers on Wednesday, December 3rd.
Three men along with seven other Afghans were arrested from a separate family in Watervliet on Monday.
Yousaf Sherzad, acting president of the Afghan American Community Center in Albany, confirmed that they all have pending asylum applications.
The enforcement action became active after the Nov. 26 shooting near the White House that killed National Guard member Sarah Beckstrom and critically wounded Andrew Wolfe.
Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national who resettled in the United States in 2021 through a program for war allies, has been charged and has pleaded not guilty.
President Donald Trump called the incident a “terrorist attack” and immediately ordered a review of security and vetting protocols for migrants from Afghanistan and 18 other “high-risk” countries.
