WASHINGTON — A group of U.S. senators has raised urgent concerns over the Trump administration’s recent immigration and foreign aid policies, which they say have left Afghan wartime allies stranded and in jeopardy.
In a February 4 letter addressed to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, the senators highlighted the severe implications of the administration’s actions, including President Donald Trump’s executive orders on refugee admissions and foreign aid.
The letter, shared publicly by Senator Amy Klobuchar, does not specify the names of other senators involved.
“Standing by those who stood with us is a matter of national interest and national honor,” the letter stated.
The senators cited specific policies that have compounded the crisis, including the State Department’s suspension of foreign assistance programs, the Homeland Security directive to phase out humanitarian parole, and the potential long-term impact of freezing the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program on Afghan allies and evacuees.
“These actions call into doubt whether the United States will stand by our wartime partners and their families by giving them the support and assurances they need to rebuild their lives in America,” the letter said.
Afghans stranded in limbo
The senators underscored the “real-world consequences” of these actions, pointing to Afghan evacuees stranded in Qatar and Albania.
“Established policies to reunite active-duty U.S. service members with their Afghan family members have been thrown into doubt, as has the future of our Afghan partners who have been paroled into the United States,” they wrote.
Additionally, access to resettlement and placement services for Afghans who arrived in the U.S. before January 20 has been disrupted, the letter noted.
The letter outlined a series of requests directed at the Departments of Defense, State, and Homeland Security to clarify their policies.
From the Defense Department, they asked for confirmation that the Office of the Special Coordinator for Afghanistan will continue to allow U.S. service members and Defense Department civilian personnel to request resettlement for Afghan family members.
They also requested the Department of State about confirmation of the continuing operation of the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program, including processing for SIV applicants and family members.
The senators called for policy guidelines on services for Afghans who arrived in the U.S. before January 20 or will arrive under the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program.
They also asked guidance on travel and transport for Afghan evacuees approved for resettlement.
From the Department of Homeland Security, they asked clarification on humanitarian parole and whether it will continue under certain conditions.
The senators also noted that the administration’s executive orders provide for a 90-day review of refugee and foreign aid policies but stressed that waiting three months to clarify these policies would exacerbate the uncertainty faced by Afghan allies and their families.
The letter follows widespread criticism of the Trump administration’s immigration and foreign aid policies, with rights groups warning that such actions undermine the United States’ moral and strategic commitments to those who risked their lives to support its mission in Afghanistan.
