Republicans in Congress have expressed differing views on U.S. immigration policy regarding Afghan nationals, particularly those who assisted U.S. military efforts. This divergence occurs amidst executive actions that have altered immigration programs for individuals from Afghanistan and other countries.
Recent Policy Changes and Incidents
Over the past year, the U.S. government has implemented pauses on visa and other immigration programs for Afghan nationals. This has included the revocation of temporary permission to stay for some already in the country. Further restrictions followed a shooting incident in Washington, D.C., last month, in which an Afghan national was charged with the fatal shooting of a National Guard member.
Republican Congressional Views
- Senator Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) cautioned against immediate policy changes that could impact Afghans with valid immigration cases, citing concerns about U.S. special operators' safety if allies abroad lose trust.
- Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) voiced concern regarding the impact of these cuts on Afghans who served as guards, drivers, interpreters, and cooks for U.S. troops. She advocated for more intensive vetting procedures.
- Senator James Lankford (R-Okla.) characterized immigration vetting as primarily an executive branch responsibility, stating that the process exists and its execution is key.
- Senator Bill Cassidy (R-La.) supported the "Fulfilling Promises to Afghan Allies Act," a bipartisan bill introduced in August that proposes a pathway to legal permanent residency for Afghans after additional vetting. The bill has not yet had a committee vote.
- Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas), who has previously supported special immigrant visas for Afghan military interpreters, stated that it is "premature" to discuss restarting such conversations currently.
Executive Branch Stance and Actions
President Trump has campaigned on expanding deportation efforts and announced a "permanent pause on Third World migration," specifically mentioning Afghanistan, Haiti, and Somalia.
- Upon taking office, Trump paused the refugee resettlement program, affecting thousands of individuals, including Afghans approved for U.S. entry. Afghanistan was a significant source of refugees in fiscal year 2024, with 14,680 out of 100,000 refugees admitted from the country.
- The administration later shifted the target demographic for the refugee program to white South Africans.
- In June, Afghanistan was added to a list of 19 countries facing U.S. travel restrictions.
- Following the D.C. shooting incident, the Trump administration paused processing asylum cases, green cards, and other immigration services for individuals from countries on the June travel ban list. Processing of all visas specifically for Afghans was also halted.
- The administration has asserted that individuals from Afghanistan were not adequately vetted under the Biden administration. Rahmanullah Lakanwal, the individual charged in the D.C. shooting, was admitted in 2021 under the Biden administration's Operation Allies Welcome and granted asylum under the Trump administration.
- White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson stated that the suspect's presence in the U.S. was a result of what she characterized as "Joe Biden's dangerous policies," which she claimed allowed "unvetted criminals" into the country.
- Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem suggested the suspect might have been radicalized after arriving in the U.S.
Legislative Developments and Advocacy
- Congress has passed limited immigration-related legislation this year, primarily focusing on funding Department of Homeland Security enforcement.
- House Republicans removed a bipartisan provision from the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would have reinstated a State Department office for relocating Afghan refugees. Representative Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.), who introduced the provision, criticized the removal.
- Immigrant advocacy groups, such as AfghanEvac, have criticized Congress for ceding its authority on immigration policy to the executive branch and failing to modernize immigration systems. Shawn VanDiver, founder of AfghanEvac, stated that the vacuum has been filled with "fear-mongering, not facts; politics, not policy."