Brian Mann

They expected to be treated with respect in the U.S., given a chance to start new lives here.

Instead, they found themselves tangled in a complicated immigration process, often stuck without permanent asylum or work visas for years.

And I spoke about this with one zero-unit fighter named Daoud.

Now, Daboud agreed to speak with NPR if we agreed to only use his first name.

He said he fears for the safety of his family still living in Afghanistan under the Taliban.

He told me when zero-unit fighters living in the U.S.

reached out to the CIA for help, they often got no response.

NPR also reached out to the CIA and the U.S.

Citizenship and Immigration Services to ask about all this.

Both agencies declined to comment.

Yeah, people who've been working with these Afghan soldiers say it's been really widespread.

Dawood told me he's scrambled repeatedly to help fellow soldiers who feel hopeless, but he said some didn't make it.

And Gita Bakshi, the former CIA agent, she now leads an aid group for Afghans called FAMIL.

She says her organization also started working to prevent suicides as early as 2023.

And now, again, Michelle, these zero-unit fighters and their families are facing new fear and uncertainty.

The immigration process for all Afghans has been frozen by the Trump administration because of the Lackinwall case.

Afghan refugees are being vetted once again.

And President Trump has suggested many of these zero-unit fighters may not be allowed to stay in the U.S.

Thank you, Michelle.

It's still not clear why Rachmanoula Lachenwal drove from this city in northern Washington state to the nation's capital, where he allegedly opened fire on two National Guard soldiers, killing one and seriously injuring the other.