Masuda Statement on DC Shooting

The actions of one man do not define others. Many Afghan men and women have supported the US mission in Afghanistan, often risking their and their families lives. Now, many of them are refugees from their homeland or at risk for supporting U.S. troops. Resettling these brave people and their families in the U.S. is a debt we owe them for protecting our loved ones deployed in Afghanistan for decades.

The recent tragedy does not define the sacrifices they have made and the risks they have taken to try to bring, peace, stability, and democracy to Afghanistan.

While the Trump Administration tries to blame everyone but themselves, the reality is that our FBI has been pulled away from anti-terrorism and national security threats to focus on deporting harmless, hard working immigrants in our communities, including people who have been here for decades trying to navigate our legal system.

The Trump Administration has unnecessarily deployed National Guard troops in DC. While the President posts to social media from the safety of his golden bunker, further stoking chaos and division, the brave men and women of the National Guard have to deal with the consequences. Rather than acknowledging how they have endangered American lives and wasted taxpayer money on a meaningless and anti-democratic show of force, the Trump Administration is instead doubling down to send more troops to DC.

Trump and his CIA can blame whomever they want, but the shooting of these two members of the National Guard are on the hands of President Trump, his incompetent leaders in the FBI, and his divisive policies and rhetoric.