The shooting of two National Guardsmen by an Afghan refugee, who reportedly drove 40 hours to commit that awful crime, was an appalling act of madness. The families of these guardsmen deserve our deepest sympathies.

But the response from the Trump administration—casting suspicion on all Afghans who aided U.S. forces, and were admitted here because of that service—is unjust. One unstable gunman does not represent the thousands of others who risked their lives for the U.S. mission

Ordering 500 more guardsmen to Washington, D.C., despite a federal judge’s ruling that the original deployment was unlawful, only turns a tragedy into political theater. The attacked troopers should have been home for Thanksgiving.

From the beginning, America has relied on immigrants and we need them now as much as ever. My fear is that the President’s ever-growing antipathy—not only toward Afghans, but toward all immigrants, including naturalized citizens—will only inflame division and weaken our national fabric. Using this unspeakable tragedy to fuel broader suspicion undermines one of America’s greatest strengths: attracting hardworking people with all levels of skills who choose to build their future in the United States.

Edward Kornbluh, DDS
Schodack Landing, NY