Afghan CIA-Affiliated Fighters Face Immigration Challenges and Mental Health Crisis in U.S.

Afghan CIA-Affiliated Fighters Face U.S. Immigration and Mental Health Challenges

Afghan fighters who served in "Zero Units" led by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) have encountered significant challenges since their evacuation to the United States. These challenges include bureaucratic difficulties in securing asylum or permanent residency, leading to feelings of despair and abandonment. The situation has drawn attention following the charges against Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a former Zero Unit member, in a shooting incident in Washington, D.C. on Thanksgiving Eve.

Zero Units comprised thousands of Afghan soldiers who fought alongside the CIA against the Taliban for two decades. Their missions often involved nighttime raids and intense urban combat. Human Rights Watch has previously accused these units of engaging in torture and illegal killings. Following the Taliban's takeover of Kabul in 2021, many of these fighters were evacuated to the U.S.

Upon arrival in the U.S., many former Zero Unit members reported experiencing bureaucratic neglect from the U.S. government. A former combat translator, identified as Davud, stated that four individuals from these units died by suicide due to despair and frustration. Former CIA agent Geeta Bakshi, who worked in Afghanistan for four years and now leads the refugee resettlement program FAMIL, confirmed the rising rates of self-harm among former Afghan soldiers. Both Davud and Bakshi linked these mental health crises directly to prolonged immigration delays and difficulties in navigating the U.S. immigration system. Bakshi noted instances where severe distress arose from administrative errors, such as misspellings, that delayed critical paperwork.

Rahmanullah Lakanwal, the individual charged in the Washington, D.C. shooting, was a Zero Unit fighter. He received asylum protection in April 2024, nearly four years after arriving in the U.S. According to a refugee resettlement volunteer who worked with his family, Lakanwal experienced a personal crisis beginning in January 2024 and struggled to find stable employment. The volunteer expressed concerns about his mental state, though they observed no signs of radicalization.

In the wake of the Washington, D.C. incident, the U.S. government has frozen all Afghan asylum cases, and the legal status of Afghan refugees in the U.S. is under review.

• Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem suggested Lakanwal may have been "radicalized" while in the U.S., but no evidence was publicly provided.
• Former CIA Director John Ratcliffe commented that Lakanwal and others should not have been allowed into the country, questioning vetting procedures.
• FBI Director Kash Patel also criticized the Biden administration's vetting process.

Davud disputed these claims, asserting that Zero Unit fighters underwent rigorous vetting, including polygraph tests and detailed interviews by U.S. federal agencies over many years, both in Afghanistan and the U.S. Biden administration officials also stated that Afghans underwent thorough vetting. Lakanwal has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Organizations like FAMIL aim to help Zero Unit soldiers adapt to life in the U.S., providing support and guidance. Despite some successful integrations, the community continues to grapple with the mental health impacts of their experiences and the immigration process.