The Trump administration has suspended visas and other programs allowing Afghans to come to the United States legally, including those who helped American troops. Some Republicans are pushing back.
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Following the shooting of two National Guard members in Washington last month, President Trump has tightened his grip on immigration from Afghanistan. The administration has suspended programs Afghans can use to come to the U.S. legally, including visas, and has revoked temporary stay permits for Afghans already here. Among the victims are Afghan citizens who helped the United States during the war. As NPR's Ximena Bustillo reports, some Republicans believe the restrictions have gone too far.
XIMENA BUSTILLO, BYLINE: Sean VanDiver is the founder of #AfghanEvac, an organization advocating for Afghans who supported the U.S. military. He tracks how these wartime allies were affected by Trump's immigration policies.
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SEAN VANDIVER: Suspend asylum decisions, suspend processing of visas for Afghans, re-screen every refugee accepted under the previous administration, while quickly tracking down others they deem more desirable.
BUSTILLO: Some of these changes came after an Afghan national shot and killed a member of the National Guard. The policy changes exposed divisions within the Republican Party over who should be allowed into the United States. Some Republicans still want to expand the legal route. In the photo, North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis talks about the aftermath of the shooting.
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TOM TILLIS: Unfortunately, that happened, but that in itself cannot be a reason to stop any further consideration or even reconsider some others.
BUSTILLO: Others, like Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, agree with the Trump administration that vetting needs to be strengthened, but not that the program should be ended.
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SUSAN COLLINS: There are Afghan citizens who worked as guards, drivers, translators and cooks for our troops. So I think the answer will be more intensive and thorough scrutiny.
BUSTILLO: And others, like Republican Sen. James Lankford, who sits on the Homeland Security Committee, say it's not Congress's job to intervene.
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JAMES LANKFORD: This is primarily an executive issue. The review process is in place and in place. It's just a matter of executing it at this stage or creating it…
BUSTILLO: The alleged shooter was approved for asylum earlier this year, but it's unclear what additional screening would have helped. He previously worked in a division of the CIA. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem says an Afghan national was radicalized after coming to the United States. A department spokeswoman told NPR that the safety of the American people always comes first when asked about policy changes. Still, some advocates like VanDiver say Congress isn't doing enough to stand up for America's allies after a long war.
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VANDIVER: Instead of standing up for its constitutional role, Congress has allowed itself to be sidelined by failing to provide meaningful oversight. The vacuum they left is being filled by fear mongering, not facts, not policy, not politics.
BUSTILLO: Some lawmakers added a bipartisan provision to the National Defense Policy bill that would have brought back a State Department office dedicated to resettling Afghan refugees, but House GOP leaders removed it from the bill they voted on last week.
Ximena Bustillo, NPR News, Washington.
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